The Beijing municipal government is striving to accelerate the steps for a recycling economy while paying attention to resource-saving and environmental protection, according to an official of the Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.

Briefing the press on the city's action plan for 2007, commission member Zhan Yanyou said on Wednesday that the city will meet the state mandatory targets of five percent in the reduction of energy and water consumption respectively, a three percent decline in chemical oxygen demand and 10 percent drop in sulfur dioxide emissions.

In addition, he said, Beijing has set its own targets for the year: the number of good air quality days in the urban area is to reach 67 percent; sewage treatment to reach 92 percent for the eight districts; use of recycling water to reach 50 percent, garbage disposal to reach 97 percent and a 42.7 percentage for urban afforestation.

In 2007, Beijing will continue to push the Capital Steel Company to cut-down four million tones of steel as planned, stop cement production of backward enterprises and close down small coal mines according to state policies.

To reduce pollutant emissions, the city will eliminate 2,580 old buses and 5,000 taxis. Clean energy projects such as the Beijing Guanting wind power plant and the revamp of the coal-burning boilers and the recycling water scheme at the Olympic Village will be given priority.

Beijing will also stress the treatment and reuse of solid waste, featured by a plan to recycle the Capital Steel Company's 10 million tons of steel slag, Zhang said.