China’s urban environment has improved immeasurably in recent years due to vigorous adjustment of its industrial construction regulations and positive control of its industrial pollution. The central authorities have kept a close watch on these developments and brought in new changes. As such the figures for 2002 show a marked decrease in main pollutants from those of 1998. These include sulfur dioxide (down by 10.3 percent), smoke and dust (down by 26.1 percent), industrial dust (down by 35.5 percent), and industrial solid waste discharge (down by 58.9 percent). The quality of the air and environment for urban residents has been said to have noticeably improved.

The same cannot be said for the countryside where pollution has become increasingly severe. The excessive and indiscriminate use of pesticides, chemical fertilizer and agricultural plastic sheeting has caused serious pollution in many places. Township industrial pollution is also making a comeback after a period of tighter control. Most serious is the increase in livestock and poultry breeding pollution caused by the inappropriate disposal of animal waste.

According to the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) survey on polluting conditions relating to nationwide livestock and poultry breeding, the general load of animal waste has approached an alarming level, while less than 10 percent of the current total breeding farms having experienced an environmental impact evaluation.

An official from the SEPA explained that there are three reasons for the serious pollution caused by livestock and poultry breeding. First, poor farm layout; second, most breeding farms don’t have cultivated land to dispose of animal waste; third, preferential policies concerning the disposal of animal waste are very much needed. A solution to some of these problems is seen in the possible decentralization of poultry and livestock breeding areas and the education on integrated organic methods of waste disposal.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, March 31, 2003)