A large-scale environmentally friendly project for the disposal of medical waste will be carried out under the co-operation of the country's top environmental watchdog and the international community.

The project will cost around US$45 million, nearly half of which will come from the Global Environment Facility.

Planned to run for four years, the project aims to reduce the production of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) during the disposal of medical waste by improving the current treatment facilities and establishing new advanced services.

According to figures from the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), China now produces more than 1,500 tons of medical waste a day, and this figure is likely to rise. Experts say if SEPA does not consider the reduction of POPs, it may lead to a serious pollution risk, especially in levels of dioxin.

Currently, the country's treatment facilities mainly use combustion techniques.

"However, according to my investigation, most of the country's 171 incinerators for medical waste do not reach the correct standards for pollution control," said Wu Shunze from the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning.

For solving the pollution problem, the State Council ratified SEPA and the National Development and Reform Commission to compile the "Hazardous Waste and Medical Waste Treatment Facility Construction Plan."

"Although we now have regulations on how to treat medical waste, there are still many difficulties since the plan is not very practical or complete, " said Wu Yinghong from the Ministry of Health.

Source: China Daily