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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| A rubbish story: China's mega-dump full 25 years ahead of schedule | A rubbish story: China's mega-dump full 25 years ahead of schedule |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| China's largest dump is already full - 25 years ahead of schedule. | China's largest dump is already full - 25 years ahead of schedule. |
| The Jiangcungou landfill in Shanxi Province, which is the size of around 100 football fields, was designed to take 2,500 tonnes of rubbish per day. | The Jiangcungou landfill in Shanxi Province, which is the size of around 100 football fields, was designed to take 2,500 tonnes of rubbish per day. |
| But instead it received 10,000 tonnes of waste per day - the most of any landfill site in China. | But instead it received 10,000 tonnes of waste per day - the most of any landfill site in China. |
| China is one of the world's biggest polluters, and has been struggling for years with the rubbish its 1.4 billion citizens generate. | China is one of the world's biggest polluters, and has been struggling for years with the rubbish its 1.4 billion citizens generate. |
| How big is the landfill site? | How big is the landfill site? |
| The Jiangcungou landfill in Xi'an city was built in 1994 and was designed to last until 2044. | The Jiangcungou landfill in Xi'an city was built in 1994 and was designed to last until 2044. |
| The landfill serves over 8 million citizens. It spans an area of almost 700,000 square metres, with a depth of 150 metres and a storage capacity of more than 34 million cubic metres. | The landfill serves over 8 million citizens. It spans an area of almost 700,000 square metres, with a depth of 150 metres and a storage capacity of more than 34 million cubic metres. |
| Until recently, Xi'an was one of the few cities in China that solely relied on landfill to dispose of household waste - leading to capacity being reached early. | Until recently, Xi'an was one of the few cities in China that solely relied on landfill to dispose of household waste - leading to capacity being reached early. |
| Earlier this month, a new incineration plant was opened, and at least four more are expected to open by 2020. Together, they are expected to be able to process 12,750 tonnes of rubbish a day. | |
| The move is part of a national plan to reduce the number of landfills, and instead use other waste disposal methods like incineration. | The move is part of a national plan to reduce the number of landfills, and instead use other waste disposal methods like incineration. |
| The landfill site in Xi'an will eventually become an "ecological park". | The landfill site in Xi'an will eventually become an "ecological park". |
| How much waste does China produce? | How much waste does China produce? |
| In 2017, China collected 215 million tonnes of urban household waste, according to the country's statistical yearbook. That's up from 152 million ten years earlier. | In 2017, China collected 215 million tonnes of urban household waste, according to the country's statistical yearbook. That's up from 152 million ten years earlier. |
| The country had 654 landfill sites and 286 incineration plants. | The country had 654 landfill sites and 286 incineration plants. |
| It is not clear what China's recycling rate is, as no figures have been released. China plans to recycle 35% of waste in major cities by the end of 2020, according to one government report. | It is not clear what China's recycling rate is, as no figures have been released. China plans to recycle 35% of waste in major cities by the end of 2020, according to one government report. |
| This July, sorting and recycling rubbish was made mandatory in Shanghai - leading to "a sense of panic" among some residents. | This July, sorting and recycling rubbish was made mandatory in Shanghai - leading to "a sense of panic" among some residents. |
| In 2015, there was a landslide a rubbish dump in the southern city of Shenzhen, killing 73 people. | In 2015, there was a landslide a rubbish dump in the southern city of Shenzhen, killing 73 people. |
| The dump was designed to hold four million cubic metres worth of rubbish with a maximum height of 95 metres. | The dump was designed to hold four million cubic metres worth of rubbish with a maximum height of 95 metres. |
| When it collapsed it was holding 5.8m cubic metres of material with waste heaps up to 160m high. | When it collapsed it was holding 5.8m cubic metres of material with waste heaps up to 160m high. |
| Does China deal with other countries' waste? | Does China deal with other countries' waste? |
| Not anymore. It used to, until the end of 2017 when it decided to ban the import of 24 different grades of rubbish. | Not anymore. It used to, until the end of 2017 when it decided to ban the import of 24 different grades of rubbish. |
| In 2017 alone, China took in seven million tonnes of plastic rubbish from Europe, Japan and the US - and 27 million tonnes of waste paper. | In 2017 alone, China took in seven million tonnes of plastic rubbish from Europe, Japan and the US - and 27 million tonnes of waste paper. |
| Other countries, including Malaysia, Turkey, the Philippines and Indonesia, have picked up some of the slack. | Other countries, including Malaysia, Turkey, the Philippines and Indonesia, have picked up some of the slack. |
| But they struggled to deal with the amount of waste coming in - often times resulting in massive, out of control landfills in their own countries. | But they struggled to deal with the amount of waste coming in - often times resulting in massive, out of control landfills in their own countries. |
| Some of these countries have now banned the import of certain types of rubbish and are even sending it back. | Some of these countries have now banned the import of certain types of rubbish and are even sending it back. |
| Additional reporting by Ellen Jin | Additional reporting by Ellen Jin |