An action aiming to fix factories that pollute has been carried out in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province.

A number of factories have been closed to pave the way for the city’s eco-civilization three-year plan. However, as Zhang Ping, director of the Zhangjiagang municipal environmental protection bureau said, it is vital to lead factories to upgrade technology and maintain sustainable development.

An owner of a factory that was punished for illegal transfer of waste wrapping drums was not disappointed by the action. He showed appreciation to the official and said he didn’t know much about solid waste transfer and didn’t realize what they were doing was illegal. He promised to send waste drums to qualified enterprises and hopes to get more directions in the future.

Zhu Yuhua, deputy director of the solid waste management department of the Zhangjiagang municipal environmental protection bureau, gave a further explanation of the reason why the owner was so grateful. He said on June 18 this year the Supreme People’s Court released a detailed interpretation of applicable laws in environment pollution criminal cases.

According to the interpretation, people who transfer dangerous wastes illegally of more than 3 tons shall bear criminal responsibilities. The owner didn’t transfer that much and has already been stopped. Otherwise he might have gone to prison.

Huang Jian, an official from the bureau, said most big enterprises pay attention to environmental protection, but small chemical or printing workshops with no licenses cause serious pollution and can affect people’s lives.

These workshops are always hidden in residential homes in remote areas, so it is difficult to find them and it’s easy to rebuild such workshops. United efforts from related government departments are required to stop the workshops, said Huang Jian.