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CHINA

Thanks to the comprehensive use of wastewater and solid waste material, northwest China's Gansu Province yielded economic benefits worth over US $49 million. The province discharges 240 million cubic metre of waste industrial gases, 35,000 tonnes of wastewater and more than 16 million tonnes of solid waste material each year. To encourage recycle of waste material, the provincial government offers tax incentive and financial subsidies.

The incentives have paid off, for example, the Lanzhou thermal power plant, producing 30,000 tonnes of coal each year, has earned huge profits by converting wastes into cement additives. The provincial government also promotes development of technology to ensure optimal resource use. Zhangye Chemical Corporation has joined hands with Lanzhou University to develop water purification products using wastes produced by coal mines.

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