China unveils four new emission-cut standards

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Environment on Friday issued four standards to curb industrial waste and air pollutant emissions.

The four standards that regulate emissions of tin, antimony and mercury as well as pollutants produced by industrial boilers, non-road motor vehicles and refuse burning are part of an ambitious five-year plan issued last year by the State Council to clean the air.

The plan requires meting out 25 key standards targeting various pollutants. It is estimated that it will cost 1.75 trillion yuan to cut coal use, shut down polluters, promote cleaner production and lower the PM2.5 density.

The implementation of the four latest standards will greatly reduce inhalable particulate matter, nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide, promote industrial technological progress and effectively control the environmental risks caused by refuse burning, according to the ministry.

For instance, annual emissions of sulfur dioxide and ammonia nitrogen will be cut by 41 and 57 percent respectively under the standard targeting tin, antimony and mercury. Heavy metals in the air will also be cut by an average of 65 percent.

The ministry said that 20 standards have been unveiled so far and the remaining five, mainly targeting non-ferrous metals and chemicals, will likely be completed within this year.