NEW ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT DIGEST | 新能源与环保参考

How much garbage do we throw away per year?

ANNUAL PER CAPITA MSW GENERATION

China: 692 Pounds (1.9 lbs / day)
US: 1,565 Pounds (4.3 lbs / day)

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Since 2009, Hangzhou has implemented a direct system of waste collection, taking rubbish from apartment units and other collection points straight to incineration or landfills. This was done both to streamline the collection process and eliminate small neighborhood transfer stations, long seen as a nuisance to residents due to their persistent odor and attractiveness to pests.

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Shanghai Jiangqiao Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Plant

Jiangqiao Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Incineration Plant is one of the many incineration facilities in China that has become a target of public opposition in recent years. I took a look inside to see for myself what all the controversy is about. Check out what, besides a lost appetite, that visit produced.

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For all the slackers visual learners out there.

Hangzhou currently counts 8.7 million residents in its population. Each resident generates roughly 1.2 kg (2.64 lbs) of garbage per day, resulting in roughly 7,000 total tons of waste citywide daily. 100% of Hangzhou’s waste is treated innocuously, according to the Chinese government’s definition. This means it is either treated by incineration or composting, or disposed of in a sanitary landfill. At present, 48% of Hangzhou municipal solid waste (MSW) is incinerated, and 52% is landfilled; though that ratio regularly varies by about five percent.

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Landfill gas being piped to the adjacent electricity generation facility

Some NEEDigest readers have been asking for more photos of site visits to landfills and incineration facilities. I guess there is more interest out there in solid waste management than I thought! Though it remains to be seen how many people would actually subject themselves to site visits. As you will see from the photos below, and more to come, garbage treatment plants are not exactly pleasing to your olfactory system.

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