Guiyang develops waste-to-energy projects

A recent visit to the Guiyang Waste-to-Energy Project revealed a picturesque scene of lush greenery, fresh air, and an environment more closely resembling an ecological park than a waste processing facility. The clean, odor-free surroundings made it hard to believe that the site processes tons of household waste daily.

At the facility, garbage trucks unload waste onto a designated platform after being weighed, while workers in the crane control room operate massive grabs to feed fermented waste into the incinerator to be burned. In the central control room, staff members monitor real-time data and surveillance footage to ensure 24-hour automated production. As the waste burns, it is converted into electricity, helping to power homes across the city.

"The facility processes 2,000 metric tons and generates 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each day," said a representative from Hanlan (Guiyang) Solid Waste Treatment Co. With an annual output value of 250 million yuan ($35.47 million), it not only improves urban waste management but also promotes green development.

In 2022, Guiyang was selected as part of China's Zero-waste City initiative. Since then, the city has built multiple waste-to-energy facilities and is now able to process 5,150 tons of waste per day.

The city's waste classification system has been key to this success. It has introduced legislation and initiatives to encourage public participation in waste sorting, built 21 waste transfer and sorting centers, and upgraded 15 transfer stations. It is now setting an example for sustainable urban waste management and advancing its vision of becoming a zero-waste city.