Center

Get on top of POPs problem

By Li Fangchao (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-22 08:58

And by 2015, the country will finish the work of proper treatment of the vast amount of obsolete electric power equipment, mainly transformers made with materials containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a toxic substance that may contaminate the ground, Zhuang said.

Another goal is to try to stabilize the country's emission of dioxin by 2015, a carcinogenic substance that is mainly produced by incomplete burning of urban refuse or improper treatment of chemical waste through burning.

Zhuang revealed that the draft plan will be submitted for approval by the State Council next month, and nationwide co-ordination work for its implementation has already kicked off.

China joined the Convention in 2001 and it began to be effective in 2004 after the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress approved it.

Zhuang admitted that the country faces both opportunities and difficulties in meeting the goals.

"Lack of related laws to regulate the treatment and control of POPs, unclear vision of the total amount of POPs, backward technology in pollutant emission reduction, lack of substitutes and shortage of funds are just a few of the problems we are facing," he said.

"But through our implementation of the Convention, we can force domestic companies to upgrade their technology level and prod them to make changes in industrial structure in a more environment-friendly direction," he said.