Hazardous waste produced by local film developers has caused alarm among environmentalists. But the Shanghai Photography Association said it is taking steps to resolve the problem.

Developers will be required to collect poisonous sewage - mostly containing silver - and deposit it at appointed waste treatment plants rather than sell it to illegal scrap dealers, the photography association said.

There are more than 700 film developing outlets in town, each producing about three tons of sewage each year.

One kilogram of such sewage contains three to four grams of silver on average. Migrant dealers sift the valuable silver from the sewage and dump the remainder randomly.

As most migrant dealers have no environment knowledge, their careless recycling has been posing a serious risk to the local environment.

The new rule, however, has not been well received by the film industry, which must cover the cost of treatment.

Recently at a symposium hosted by the photography association in collaboration with local environmentalists, film developers said recyclers should offer them a discount.

Shen Jianzhong, manager of Zhenyuan Waste Treatment Company, voiced a different view.

"This is a good proposal but I'm afraid it's hard to fulfill in reality. Why should recyclers sacrifice profit?" he asked.

Shen, whose company was formed just six months ago, has contacted just 200 of some 3,000 polluters in the city.

His potential clients reach far beyond small film shops. "Hospitals and plants using X-rays during production are polluters as well," said Shen, who charges 2,200 yuan (US$265) per ton of treated sewage, which is too expensive for many shops.

Shen said despite the seemingly high fee, his company is struggling to stay afloat.

The price is less if one considers the refund of 0.6 yuan per gram of silver he pays his clients.

Shen said the government should impose strict penalties on pollution-causing industries.
Well-known photographic chemical producers like Kodak and Fuji treat their sewage with care.

Asked to comment on the waste problem in China, a Kodak spokesperson said they hadn't given it much thought.

In the meantime, the Shanghai Environment Protection Bureau is still considering the issue.

(eastday.com March 8, 2004)