The province has launched a series of anti-pollution drives which have already reduced air pollution and water contamination, said Li Yihui, deputy director of the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau.

However, with its fast economic development, the province still discharges huge amounts of solid waste materials annually, which include household rubbish, industrial waste materials and dangerous waste materials and rejected electronic appliances, the official said.

He added the solid waste materials discharged by the province totaled 46.34 million tons in 2001, and the treatment of a certain amount of the solid waste materials did not reach desired control standards, resulting in repeated pollution.

The harmless treatment rates of household rubbish and medical waste materials in the province stood only at 14 per cent and 16 per cent respectively, the official noted, adding that the rate was even lower for dangerous and industrial waste materials.

The official said the province has planned 152 anti-pollution projects this year, with total investment topping 21.7 billion yuan (US$2.6 billion) in a bid to better handle the solid waste materials.

In accordance with the plan, by 2005, the province expects to set up an effective administrative mechanism and a monitoring and control system on solid waste materials disposal.

A series of model projects and facilities will also be established in key areas of the province to curb pollution caused by solid waste materials.

By 2010, a series of modern treatment and disposal bases for solid waste materials will be set up in the province, and the pollution by the solid waste materials in the province will be basically brought under control, the official said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2003)