The world's biggest plastics recycling processing plant, capable of recycling 60,000 tons of waste annually, has begun operating in Beijing.

Operated by Beijing Incom Resources Recovery Co, the plant cost 300 million yuan (US$37.5 million), Li Ping, director of the Beijing municipal industry promotion bureau, said yesterday.

He said the plant's annual capacity equaled one-third of the city's total waste in plastics, and would result in 30,000 tons of clean polyester and 20,000 tons of polyester chips - equivalent to a saving of 300,000 tons of petroleum annually.

"The plant will contribute greatly to Beijing's energy saving endeavors," Li said.

Figures from the Beijing Municipal Packing Technology Association show that discarded plastic bottles amounted to 150,000 tons in 2006 in Beijing, and will surge to 300,000 tons in 2010.

Tens of thousands of migrant workers are usually employed to collect discarded plastic products. The products are taken to urban-fringe zones where they are cleaned and crushed.

According to the association, Beijing has more than 150 low-level workshops, each with a daily capacity of 1-3 tons. About 15 to 20 tons of water is needed to process one ton of waste plastics.

Li said Beijing was encouraging more companies to participate in building logistics and sorting centers for waste plastics.

Beijing Incom will set up four such centers this year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2007)