Stinky stench disturbing residents

• Source: Global Times
• [10:19 July 19 2010]
• Comments

Growing pains

According to Dai Xingyi, director of Environmental Economics Studies Center at Fudan University, waste management problems around the city in recent years have been exacerbated by the vast growth in population.

Songjiang district, which has become a popular nestling place for residents over the past several years, has soared from a modest population of 300,000 to 1.52 million in the past decade, receiving a boost in 2005, when seven universities pumped more than 100,000 students and teachers into the area.

The expansion means that the district now deals with a daily average of 950 tons of waste, exceeding the original demand of 600 tons of daily waste, for which the existing facility was designed for - bringing about serious challenges to infrastructure, said Dai.

"Industry facilities shouldn't be put so close to residential areas," he said. "But the reality is that development often trumps urban planning issues."

Meanwhile, residents like Zhang and Fu remain doubtful of the new facility, saying that more industry would not solve their problems.

"Government officials won't know what we put up with unless they come and stay at our homes," said Zhang. "Only then will they understand that all we want is a breath of fresh air."