Urgency rises for tackling hazardous waste

The deadly blast at a chemical plant in Jiangsu province last month that left 78 dead clearly highlights the urgent need to properly handle hazardous waste management in the country.

As central authorities tighten management by revising laws and issuing detailed policies to support hazardous waste treatment, experts are calling for mandating that facilities to process such waste be built in all chemical industry parks nationwide.

The explosion occurred on March 21 in Xiangshui county, Yancheng, at a Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co Ltd plant. The accident also injured more than 600.