China plans to spend nearly 15 billion yuan (US$1.81 billion) in the next three years for the safe storage and disposal of industrial, medical and radioactive wastes nationwide.

According to a program plan made public by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) Wednesday, every province and autonomous region will establish a disposal complex for industrial waste and a storehouse for radioactive waste. In addition, 300 cities are required to set up collection and disposal centers for medical waste.

China turned out about 10 million tons of industrial waste, 650,000 of medical waste and 11,000 of radioactive waste in 2002.

"After the program is completed, China will be capable of disposing of its annual dangerous waste, even in the face of the urbanization surge in the upcoming 20 years," said Liu Youbing of SEPA.

This program, financed by both governments and private investors, will cost 14.92 billion yuan (US$1.8 billion).

The disposal industry, which was once totally funded by the government, has been allowed since 2004 to charge its users, such as heavy industry plants and hospitals, to attract private and foreign investors.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2004)