The total volume of domestic garbage in Beijing for the first half of the year decreased 4.8 percent over the same period last year, the first time the capital city has recorded a decline in its wastes.

Deng Jun, an official from the Committee of Beijing Municipality and City Appearance, attributed the decrease to local government efforts to increase green awareness.

Some office buildings and restaurants even recorded zero waste.

Beijing has increased the number of its waste disposal facilities, including food waste treatment plants, incineration plants, domestic garbage treatment plants and landfills, to reduce the amount of city garbage.

It also began piloting programs in 600 various neighborhoods to raise awareness about waste classification, such as kitchen waste and recyclable waste. Government officials hope to achieve a 90-percent rate of proper disposal by the end of the year among the testers.

Future plans to reduce city waste include perfecting the pricing system for garbage disposal.

(China.org.cn Aug 18, 2010)