Despite increasing investment in environmental protection, China still faces challenges dealing with mounting solid waste, said Sheng Huaren, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) Wednesday.

Sheng made the remark in a report to the third meeting of the NPC Standing Committee on the prevention of solid garbage pollution.

Hesaid solid waste from China's industrial sector weighed heavily onthe environment.

Industrial waste residue, for a long time, has not been treatedproperly, resulting in serious damage to environment, he said.

Statistics showed that solid waste from China's industrial sectorreached 888 million tons in 2001 from 659 million tons in 1996 witha seven percent average annual increase.

Sofar, waste residue from mines across China occupies 900 squarekilometers of land, two thirds of which is arable land, saidSheng.

"Domestic waste is also increasing very fast," he said. Statisticsshowed China's domestic waste rose from 108 million tons in 1996 to135 million in 2001, up four percent a year.

"Based on past experience, we see that China's domestic waste fromcity households doubled every 10 years and has placed a heavyburden on the environment," Sheng said.

Hesaid dangerous waste, from hospitals, discarded electronicappliances and domestic animal excretion in rural areas, were allcausing increasing pollution in China.

Sheng urged governments at various levels to increase public awareness of environmental protection, tighten governmentadministration, establish an effective pollution control mechanism,and intensify law enforcement.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2003)