Zhejiang eyes harmless treatment of rural waste by 2020

HANGZHOU - East China's Zhejiang province aims to realize the harmless treatment of all domestic waste in rural areas by 2020, local authorities said Thursday.

The provincial environment and agriculture department said Zhejiang would further reduce rural pollution and planned to set up 1,500 domestic sewage treatment facilities with a daily treatment capacity of 30 tonnes in rural areas this year.

To achieve the goal, Zhejiang has encouraged garbage sorting, recycling, and harmless domestic waste treatment across rural areas. Meanwhile, garbage and sewage disposal facilities have been increased, while regulations on the operation and maintenance of facilities are expected to roll out.

The province has strengthened efforts to prevent pollution in agricultural production areas, including livestock and aquatic farms.

Zhejiang will also build over 1,000 ecological pastures by 2020, with the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides decreasing by 2 percent compared with 2017, according to the department.