Mr. Xia Guoqiang outlined Weihai’s waste management system and a two-part plan to rebuild a city park as an emergency shelter, and construct a comprehensive waste disposal center. Interpretation was provided by Ms. Xu Xiuwei.

1. The City

Weihai is a beautiful port city at the tip of the Shandong Peninsula. In the past two decades its population has grown from about 200,000 to about 1,000,000 today. This has been exceeded by economic growth, averaging over 17.8% per year in the past two decades. In the process, Weihai has also become one of China’s most celebrated “Green” cities, winning a United Nations and five national awards for its quality of life and environmental protection. Far from producing pollution and sickness, the city’s rapid economic growth has been controlled and directed by a wise government to maintain an exceptionally high quality of life. 

Waste management is governed by a “Two Grades of Government, Four Levels of Management” strategy. The city and district governments are jointly responsible for waste management, which is carried out by city, district, town and village agencies. All work together harmoniously to manage the more than 1.6 million tons of (rapidly growing) solid waste generated yearly, made up of roughly 13% domestic, 86% industrial and 1% building wastes. All of the waste generated is managed by the city organization of some 1,800 people (including 207 administrative, 64 technical and 1,400+ sweepers and drivers), the budget of which represents about 1% of the city’s overall revenue. 

Most of the waste is treated in a conventional landfill of 32 hectares, with a capacity of 4.5 million cubic meters, expected to be viable through 2026. The leachate is chemically treated and sent to the sewage operations. Medical wastes are treated separately to preclude contamination. All waste collection is free, except that for hospitals and clinics. 

Weihai's current landfill site

In 2003 an extensive garbage separation and recycling program was launched. It was aimed at the household level and was organized through school programs and the mobilization of neighborhood groups. 

The city has built more than 60 parks and gardens with 17 “comprehensive squares” that add to the beauty of the city. Tree planting is organized in an annual “Tree Planting Month” in March. 

There are plans for more extensive planting in some residential and factory areas with sparse coverage, and a planned integration of greening and solid waste management activities.

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1. The Proposed Action Plan

For Weihai’s workshop Action Plan, two problems are to be addressed. First, Weihai is located in an earthquake zone, but unlike Kobe, its parks are unequipped to act as disaster shelters. Second, with the city’s huge population and economic growth, the existing landfill cannot meet the rapidly growing demand for treatment of waste. 

Having been impressed by the multi-function parks in Kobe, Mr. Xia Guoqiang’s first plan aims to renovate Huancuilou Park, the oldest park in the central area of the city. 

Being surrounded by offices, housing and supermarkets means the park has less space and more need for advanced emergency shelter capacity. The park will be increased from 20 hectares to 55 hectares, and its infrastructure will be enhanced, with a widened access road and more sports facilities. Moreover, the park will be equipped to serve as a temporary shelter in a disaster situation. 

After consultation with The City Environmental Protection Bureau and The Constructive Administrative Committee, a plan will be made for approval of the park rebuilding from the government. The achievement of financial resources will incorporate competitively decided public bidding, and construction will begin in 2009, to open the park to the public by the end of 2010. 

With recent soaring population and rapid economic development in Weihai, the city’s landfill will reach its capacity in the very near future, so a comprehensive waste disposal and treatment plant will be built as the second component of this Action Plan. 

A suitable site of 5 hectares will be chosen, and after equipment installation and trial operation, the center will be put into operation at the end of 2010. 

The adoption of new methods and technology, such as segregation, sorting and incineration, will advance the city’s waste management and waste disposal program.

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Weihai Action Plan Time Frame for Rebuilding of Huancuilou Park: June 2008 - December 2009

Weihai Action Plan Time Frame for Comprehensive Waste Disposal Center (1): June 2008 - December 2009

Weihai Action Plan Time Frame for Comprehensive Waste Disposal Center (2): January 2010 - December 2010

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