18th May, the 10th Solid Waste Forum, co-sponsored by ChinaSolidWasteNet, Environmental Industry Institute and China Urban Construction Design & Research Institute, has been held at Tsinghua University. On this Forum, more than 50 participants from state-owned companies, private companies, foreign companies and consulting companies has been invited to share their idea on “Oncoming Standardization of Solid Waste Treatment”.

Dr. FU Tao, Director of Environmental Industry Research Institute, first introduced the background for this forum. He pointed that recently State Council has approved and forwarded Guidance on Further Strengthening Urban Household Waste Treatment, on the other hand, 2011 is the first year of 12th FYP, government has finished the draft on Planning on Waste Treatment, the investment size would determine to what extent the potential of solid waste industry would be developed. In addition, last year, State Council has promulgated Decision on Enforcing Cultivation and Development of New Industries, and Ministry of Environmental Protection promulgated Guidance on Environmental Protection Agencies to Further Promote the Development of Environmental Protection Industry on 5th April, Ministry of Environmental Protection now is developing the plan for environmental services industry, while Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is developing plans for environmental instruments.

Mr. XU Wenlong, Director of China Urban Construction Design & Research Institute has given a keynote speech, he introduced the background and significance for the promulgation of Guidance on Further Strengthening Urban Household Waste Treatment, and further he outlooked the development of solid waste treatment during 12th FYP.

Then the participants shared their ideas on the significance for the promulgation of Guidance on Further Strengthening Urban Household Waste Treatment, they all believed that the Guidance will means a lot to the whole solid waste sector, this Guidance has been co-promulgated by 16 ministries, which shows that solid waste treatment has cover a wide spectrum, on the other hand, it also reveals that the government has inserted great attention to urban household waste treatment.

However, the Guidance does not get that perfect yet. For example, some participants pointed that the Guidance gave little suggestions to the waste industry. And some others doubted that the implementation of Guidance would lead to excessive and blind enthusiasm from solid waste companies, and even lead to unfair competition and waste of resources.

After all, it is an opportunity for the solid waste sector and solid waste companies.