Waste-to-energy plant begins operations

By Tan Maolin. Wan Chunfeng also contributed to this article.

The Waste-to-Energy Plant in Xingshan County officially began operations yesterday, marking a significant milestone in collaborative waste management and sustainable development in the Xiangxi River Basin of the Three Gorges Reservoir area.

Located in Sixiangxi Village, Xiakou Town, the facility represents a 410 million yuan (US$56.14 million) investment and is operated by Xingshan Riqing Ecological Management Co., Ltd.

Wan Lei, Deputy General Manager of Xingshan Riqing, stated that the plant will process 100,000 tons of waste annually, producing 34 million kWh of electricity. Using a "full-volume incineration + waste heat power generation” approach, it will reduce reliance on landfills, promote waste reduction, facilitate resource recovery, and provide eco-friendly treatment, meeting national environmental standards.

Xingshan County and nearby areas will implement a structured waste management system involving "household sorting, group sanitation, village collection, town transfer, and county treatment," ensuring efficient waste delivery to the plant. Six transfer stations in Nanyang, Gufu, Gaoqiao, Shuiyuesi, Zhenzi, and Huangliang will support this process.

Wan also emphasized the plant's role in addressing regional waste needs, particularly in the Shennongjia Forestry District, which produces about 100 tons of waste daily due to high tourist traffic. Neighboring areas like Zigui, Badong, and Yiling could also benefit. The project aims to manage Xingshan County's waste and support sustainable development in the Xiangxi River Basin by processing waste from Shennongjia, Badong, Zigui, and Yiling.