Author | Jaime RamosThe urban growth projection for the coming decades brings with it new challenges. One of these is the issue of how to manage the waste that is generated, which is increasing at an alarming rate and particularly in specific areas of the planet.Storing and recycling waste are fast becoming a specific sector that requires efficient and clean technological solutions. China is aiming to go one step further by focusing its efforts on converting waste into energy at never before seen levels. The latest and impressive project aimed at contributing to this goal can be found at the mega-plant that is being built in the city of Shenzhen.
Shenzhen and the new generation of incineration plants
Chinese cities produce more waste than any other city in the world. In the case of Shenzhen and, according to SHL, the company behind the project, the city has to deal with around 15,000 tonnes of waste every day. Furthermore, the problem is not just about existing waste practices, but also what to do with future waste. The increase in the population of Shenzhen means that waste generation will increase by around 7% each year.
Chinese waste management model: advantages and disadvantages
The Shenzhen plant is expected to be running by 2020. Work began in 2016 and since then, the project has had its fair share of critics. One of the clearest examples is related to the fact that the process of converting waste into electricity does not prevent the emission of large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The developers of the complex defended the project by arguing that the new plant minimises greenhouse gas emissions.