The Beijing urban administration committee has recently called a seminar to solicit opinions from specialists and society at large on the ways to cope with waste batteries.

There are about 6,000 tons of waste batteries a year in the city, accounting for 0.15 percent of the total urban garbage.

The city set up waste battery collection centers in 1998 and has collected a total of 400 tons. It builds special warehouses equipped with special facilities and tools and staff. However, the waste batteries collected only account for 7 percent, much lower than the world's average of 50 percent

China is the biggest batter consumer in the world. There are about 350 battery producers with an annual capacity of 15 to 16 billion batteries. The consumption rises at an annual increase of 10 percent.

(www.cenews.com.cn April 14, 2003)