Closer Look: Sorting Out Recurring Disputes over Waste-Burning Plants

(Beijing) – A recent large protest against the building of a waste incineration plant in the eastern city of Hangzhou – unrest that led to the detention of 53 people for disturbing public order and obstructing officials – was just one of many times in recent years that the public has been angered by plans for these projects.

Behind the clashes is many cities' shortfall in capacity to process garbage as urbanization continues apace. In the past, huge amounts of trash were simply dumped in landfills around China's cities. But as cities and their populations grow, this is insufficient. One of the best ways to solve the problem is to switch to waste incineration, a practice used in many developed countries.