Rapid urbanization has increased trash in Chinese cities by five to eight percent every year. Though the percentage of treated trash has soared to over 58 percent from two percent in the early 1980s, there is still more work needing to be done.

Governments at all levels have been entirely responsible for investment in and management of trash disposal. However, government investment can no longer pay for the increase in trash.

Ministry officials said public bidding -- open to both foreign and domestic investors and entrepreneurs -- would be held to choose investors, builders and operators in trash disposal.

The Construction Ministry is already inviting joint-venture, cooperative, foreign-funded and non-governmental enterprises into the sector. These enterprises will compete in the market after receiving approval.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2002)