China's central government departments such as the State Development Planning Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction have jointly issued a notice to begin charging in every city.

All government departments, enterprises, individual business people, social societies and municipal inhabitants are required to pay for the management of domestic waste in cities, and the specific prices will be decided by the local municipal governments through price hearings, said the notice.

But those on low incomes such as laid-off workers and the unemployed will receive a reduction or exemption, said the notice.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2002)