Waste incinerator project restarts following protest, clash

A planned waste incinerator project in east China's Zhejiang Province resumed four months after local residents' protests and clashes with police suspended the project, authorities said Friday.

The housing and urban construction department of Zhejiang Province on Friday released the project's site selection notice online, requesting public opinion on the project. According to the plan, it will be built at a deserted limestone mine at Zhongtai Township in Yuhang District in the provincial capital of Hangzhou.

The incinerator will occupy a total area of 13.97 hectares and process 3,000 tonnes of household garbage every day.

Based on standard procedure, five more environmental assessment reports will be released for public scrutiny in different stages of the project, and the project will not be built without public consent. A separate survey company was also entrusted with geological and other reviews at the planned site.

Hua Jianlin, deputy director of the major civil project management office of Yuhang District, said that over the past three months, more than 2,400 residents were organized to visit waste incinerator projects in other cities, such as Guangzhou and Nanjing, to learn about waste incineration technology.

"Approval of the project will be completely open and will welcome public supervision," he said.

In April, hundreds of residents protested the project, worrying it would impact their living conditions, health and property values. Protesters rushed onto a local expressway and clashed with local police, leaving 10 protestors and 29 policemen injured.