A view of Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/hz66.com]

Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang province was recently included in the "waste-free" city program launched by the Ministry of Economy and Environment during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, local media reported.

A "waste-free" city is an advanced urban management concept aimed at minimizing the production of solid waste, as well as improving the recycling and safe disposal of waste in the city.

Huzhou has in recent years made strides in plastic waste treatment.

In 2021, the city completed the construction of 281 "waste-free" city cells, exceeding the target of 200 set by the provincial government. "Waste-free" city cells refer to places like factories, industrial parks, villages, schools, homestays, and mines that minimize the impact of solid waste on the environment in a city.

In addition, 12 cases from the city have been designated models in this regard.

Four companies from Huzhou have been listed among the first batch of Zhejiang "waste-free" factories, and two technologies developed by the city have been listed among the first batch of advanced applicable technologies for the construction of "waste-free" cities in Zhejiang.

As of the end of last year, the city's annual capacity to utilize and dispose hazardous waste had hit 1.04 million metric tons.

Huzhou was ranked first in a provincial evaluation for "waste-free" construction in Zhejiang in 2021. The ranking was made based on the waste-free index, the first of its kind in the nation.

According to an action plan released by local authorities to strengthen the treatment of plastic pollution from 2021 to 2023, the consumption of disposable plastic products will be significantly reduced in fields that produce large amounts of plastic pollution, as well as in fields like e-commerce, express delivery, and food delivery, by the end of this year.