A “Valley of Renewable Resources” -- a recycling center aimed at converting solid wastes into useful resources recently was set up in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. The establishment of the “valley” shows that China is on the road to establishing an industry to tackle problems related to environmental pollution and resource shortages.
With the development of economy and society, people from all over the world have become more concerned with issues of environmental pollution and resources shortages. In recent years, many developed countries have created an upsurge in the waste recycling industry by listing recycling as a key concern in economic construction. China also has attached great importance on using renewable resources. In 1997, based on the Wastes Recycling Research Institute of Kunming Science and Engineering College, the state and Yunnan provincial government invested 56 million yuan (US$6.8 million) to build a national solid waste recycling research center to help move toward developing a new modern industrial system -- the industry of renewable resources.
In the center, known as the” Valley of Renewable Resources,” people are surprised to find discarded industrial waste converted into new compound materials used as covers for wells, railings for gardens, and construction templates. Solidified industrial waste residue of silicate substrate materials can be used to make bearing bricks, hollow lay bricks, floor bricks and artificial stone materials for walls. Other industrial waste residue is turned into glass substrate material for heat protection, soundproofing, antiseptics and fireproofing. The pop-top cans as well as glass containers tossed away by people in daily life are combined here into a metal substrate complex of materials that can be made into roller bearings for conveyors and seamless pipes.
According to experts in Yunnan Province, the raw materials of these complex materials all come from waste materials. With stable resources and low prices, these complex materials have obvious advantages in competition and will bring great benefits to the society, economy and environment.
It is reported that the center will set up 20 to 30 industrialization bases around the country to collect complex waste materials. The center will be responsible for collecting scientific findings, integrating technological systems and distributing such technologies throughout its branches.
(新华社 [Xinhua News Agency] by Qu Guangming, translated by Wang Qian for china.org.cn, May 9, 2002)
