Gurgaon Samachar

How long does waste really last?

A common plastic bag, if left untreated, takes approximately 20 years to decompose. A plastic bottle? Around 500 years.

At Hanlan (Guiyang) Solid Waste Treatment Co., Ltd., the public education area offers a clear and engaging overview of the history and evolution of waste, types of waste materials, and the processes involved in household waste classification, recycling, and turning waste into valuable resources.

Central Control Room at Hanlan (Guiyang) Solid Waste Treatment Co., Ltd.

Photo by Wei Rong

“After flue gas undergoes denitrification inside the furnace, it enters the acid gas removal tower for desulfurization. It then passes through activated carbon adsorption to eliminate toxic substances and heavy metals, and is finally discharged after multiple stages of purification, meeting emission standards,” explained Zhang Keming, Administrative Manager at Hanlan (Guiyang) Solid Waste Treatment Co., Ltd., from the company’s intelligent monitoring center.

In addition to waste-to-energy incineration, leachate and wastewater are filtered through advanced treatment systems until they meet discharge standards, allowing the treated water to be reused within the facility. Incineration residues are further processed into eco-friendly bricks.

In 2022, the company completed and launched Guiyang’s Municipal Waste-to-Energy Incineration Project. The facility processes an average of 2,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day, totaling approximately 730,000 tons annually.

Here, the waste-to-energy process follows a full operational cycle—including weighbridge weighing, waste storage, leachate treatment, waste incineration, slag utilization, power grid integration, flue gas treatment, and emission monitoring—effectively turning waste into valuable resources.

Students Interact in the Company’s Environmental Education Zone

Photo by Wei Rong

With its environmentally friendly technologies, Hanlan (Guiyang) Solid Waste Treatment Co., Ltd. has been designated as both a “Guiyang Municipal Environmental Education Base” and a “Guiyang Municipal Science Education Base.” It is also among the first companies in Guiyang to apply for recognition as a “Zero-Waste Factory.”

A “Zero-Waste Factory” is one of the key components in Guiyang’s broader push to develop “Zero-Waste Cells,” serving as a fundamental production unit within the “Zero-Waste City” initiative.

A “Zero-Waste City” refers to a progressive urban development model guided by the principles of innovation, coordination, sustainability, openness, and inclusiveness. This model promotes green production and lifestyles by reducing solid waste generation at the source, enhancing resource recovery and recycling, and minimizing landfill use—thereby reducing the environmental impact of solid waste to the greatest extent possible.

In 2022, the General Office of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued a notice announcing the cities selected for “Zero-Waste City” development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Guiyang and Anshun, both located in Guizhou Province, were included in the national list.

To advance the initiative, Guiyang has issued several key policy documents, including the Guiyang Zero-Waste City Development Plan and the 14th Five-Year Implementation Plan for Zero-Waste City Development in Guiyang. These plans focus on five major sectors—industry, agriculture, construction, residential life, and culture—and target four core systems: institutional frameworks, technology, market mechanisms, and regulatory oversight. The city is working to instill the “zero-waste” philosophy deeply in all aspects of daily life, actively promoting a simplified, low-carbon, and healthy lifestyle and consumption model.

How Can a City Reduce Waste?

In the Yueshanhu Community of Longtan Subdistrict, Guanshanhu District, a small workshop features neatly arranged shelves lined with enzyme bottles. These eco-enzymes are produced from fruit and vegetable scraps, transforming kitchen waste into valuable resources. The resulting products can be used to water plants, repel pests, and serve as natural cleaning agents—significantly reducing waste generation.

“Each bottle is clearly labeled with production and venting dates, and volunteers take turns monitoring the process,” said Chen Fang, a staff member of the local subdistrict office.

Effective classification is key to turning waste into value. In recent years, Guiyang and Guian have continued to deepen their efforts in waste separation. Following a full-cycle approach—from waste classification at the source, to disposal, collection and transportation, initial processing, and final treatment—the cities have established a comprehensive waste management system. This has significantly improved the efficiency of municipal solid waste reduction, resource utilization, and environmentally sound disposal.

A Corner of the Household Waste Transfer, Sorting, and Classification Center on Guanyun Avenue, Baiyun District, Guiyang

Photo by Wei Rong

In Yueshanhu Community, designated recycling points have been set up where community staff guide residents in the proper disposal of hazardous waste. Volunteers also assist in promoting awareness and encouraging residents to sort their household waste at the source, helping them develop sustainable habits.

Beyond the production of eco-enzymes, the community has also launched both online and offline “waste-for-value” markets, where residents can exchange used items for new ones. These initiatives integrate the “zero-waste” philosophy into everyday life. The community also selects ten exemplary “Zero-Waste Households” whose sustainable practices serve as models to inspire broader participation in the “Zero-Waste City” initiative.

“Zero-Waste City” Community Outreach Event: Residents Exchange Books to Give Idle Volumes a Second Life

Photo courtesy of Guiyang Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment

Guiyang has issued two key policy documents: the Guiyang Plan for the Construction of a Renewable Resource Recycling System and the Interim Measures for the Management of Renewable Resource Recycling in Guiyang. The city has also successfully been designated a national model city for renewable resource recovery systems, including end-of-life appliances and furniture. A comprehensive recycling system has been established, supported by the “Smart Urban Management – Full-Cycle Waste Classification Supervision System,” which enhances digital oversight of downstream waste management enterprises.

Beyond Yueshanhu Community, Guiyang has established waste collection points in 3,000 residential communities, achieving full coverage of collection infrastructure across residential areas. The city has also commissioned three facilities for organic waste treatment and three waste-to-energy incineration plants, with a total processing capacity of 5,150 tons per day.

To date, Guiyang has established 635 “Zero-Waste Cells,” including “Zero-Waste Factories” and “Zero-Waste Communities,” gradually embedding the “zero-waste” philosophy into the city’s fabric.

Media Contact
Company Name: ECO FORUM GLOBAL GUIYANG
Contact Person: Lisa Liu
Email: Send Email
Country: China
Website: https://www.efglobal-gy.com/