Beijing imposes fees to curb dust emissions

Beijing will levy new fees for discharging dust into the air on all construction sites beginning Sunday in a move designed to control emissions of the most harmful pollutants, the city's environmental watchdog said on Friday.

The fees will cover all major construction projects, including those involving commercial housing and urban infrastructure, the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau said. Small projects, such as building or renovating private houses, will be exempt.

The city has set three levels of fees based on the amount of dust emitted. Sites that meet the national emission standards will be charged 3 yuan ($0.5) per kilogram of dust.