“China has undergone a major transformation in solid waste management over the past decades. While landfills were once the primary method, most waste is now processed in modern incineration plants, where electricity is generated from the process,” said Zhang Zhengshan, senior expert on water supply, sanitation and solid waste management, in his remarks during the session on “Waste collectors and a just transition alliances for inclusion and the circular economy in Latin America” held as part of the WUF13.
He noted that over the past 40 years, China’s rising living standards and energy transition have changed waste composition, shifting from coal-related ash to cleaner energy use like natural gas. He further added that more than 80% of waste is now treated in incineration plants that generate electricity, with high temperatures helping reduce harmful emissions such as dioxins.
