Huzhou leads Zhejiang in improving treatment of solid waste

The scenery of Huzhou is picturesque with lush greenery. [Photo/Tide News]

Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang province leads Zhejiang's 2025 "Zero-Waste Index" with a score of 91.52, marking a major milestone for the city's solid-waste management.

To date, the city has established 1,082 "zero-waste units" across factories, schools, and hospitals, serving as a model of green development.

In urban management, Huzhou's waste sorting rate has reached 88.93 percent, maintaining its lead among cities nationwide for the past four years. The city boasts over 99 percent utilization of construction waste, integrating recycled materials into municipal projects and landscaping.

Huzhou has pioneered a distinctive circular economy by leveraging digital technology and industry chain collaboration. Its smart waste management platform facilitates seamless information exchange among enterprises, creating replicable industry benchmarks.

In Changxing county, Tianneng Group excels in recycling lead-acid batteries, achieving a 99 percent resource recovery rate with a capacity of 650,000 metric tons annually. In Deqing county, Jinglan Environmental Technology converts hazardous waste fly ash into raw material for cement, enhancing the value of waste.

To address plastic pollution, Huzhou introduced the "Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic" standard in 2024, replacing over 500 tons of non-degradable plastics annually. This initiative offers a sustainable model for the national management of plastic pollution.