China’s capital churns out more waste than any other city in the country. Beijing has topped the ranking for the city producing the most municipal rubbish for 2015.

China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection posts an annual report on solid waste in large and mid-sized cities. Beijing came in first, producing 7.9 million tonnes of municipal solid waste.

beijing trash
Trash carried on a tricycle in Beijing. Photo: Wikicommons.

Shanghai followed closely behind with 7.89 million tonnes, and Chongqing third, with 6.26 million tonnes.

The report said that the total amount of trash across 246 large and mid-sized cities totalled 185.64 million tonnes.

Tackling pollution

Guomao in Beijing
Guomao, at the centre of the Central Business District in Beijing. Photo: The Paper.

Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world and has been taking steps towards environmental protection in recent weeks.  In its latest initiative, cars with lower emission standards are not allowed on the roads when high pollution alerts are issued.

Authorities say these vehicles account for eight percent of cars in the city but produce 30 per cent of nitrogen oxide emissions which cause smog.

The ban will begin on February 15 and violators will be fined.

Chantal Yuen is a Hong Kong journalist interested in issues dealing with religion and immigration. She majored in German and minored in Middle Eastern studies at Princeton University.