Shanghai's first environment-friendly garbage treatment center in downtown will be built in Jing'an District, public sanitation officials revealed Wednesday.

The center, close to the west bank of Suzhou Creek, covers a total area of more than 4,700 square meters. The construction will kick off early next month and will be completed in six months.

The center is scheduled to be put into use early next year, according to officials.

According to the design, the center will be divided into a ground-level park and an underground garbage treatment factory.

In the six-meter-deep underground factory, trucks carrying household garbage will pour the scattered trash into a big bin. After being condensed by machine, the garbage will be reloaded onto trucks and carried to suburban Jiangqiao in Jiading District for burning.

However, the center will appear like a public park on the ground. With the special filtering system installed and various kinds of green trees planted in the park, the air polluted by the garbage treatment process can be easily filtered.

In addition, waterfalls will be created and a windmill installed in the park to not only enhance the scenery but to also reduce the noise caused by the garbage treatment process.

"Every detail of the center is designed to meet environment protection standards," said Wu Hai, of the Jing'an Public Sanitation Bureau, adding its construction will cost 100 million yuan (US$12 million).

Currently, household garbage in Jing'an is transported to Putuo District for primary treatment, after its own garbage port was demolished in 1998.

As Jing'an generates 400 tons of garbage every day, it has to pay some 5 million yuan to have the waste treated by other districts, Wu said, adding "The new center can be an example for other cities to build treatment plants in downtown areas."

(eastday.com July 24, 2003)