During this year's provincial "Two Sessions," provincial people's congress deputies put forward suggestions on environmental protection, including coordinating air pollution control with economic development and accelerating the construction of a waste lead-acid battery recycling system in Henan Province. On the 15th, the Election, Appointment and Removal Liaison Committee of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Congress organized some members of the Standing Committee and provincial people's congress deputies to conduct a special inspection of the Provincial Environmental Protection Department's handling of the deputies' suggestions.
The real-time PM2.5 level measured at the site was 20.
On August 15th and 16th, led by Wang Baocun, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial People's Congress, some members of the Standing Committee and provincial people's congress deputies conducted a special inspection of relevant provincial departments' handling of suggestions from deputies to the First Session of the 13th Henan Provincial People's Congress. On the afternoon of the 15th, the inspection team visited the Henan Provincial Department of Environmental Protection, where reporters from Dahe Daily and Dahe Client conducted on-site interviews.
At 3:30 PM on the 15th, Zhengzhou was bathed in sunshine under a clear blue sky. Members of the inspection team, introduced by Wang Zhongtian, Director of the Henan Provincial Environmental Protection Department, carefully examined the automatic air quality monitoring vehicle and water pollution monitoring vehicle parked in the facility. The PM2.5 level above the Henan Provincial Environmental Protection Department was 20, according to real-time data recorded by the automatic air quality monitoring vehicle.
With environmental protection as a hot topic, provincial people's congress deputies put forward a series of suggestions.
During the first session of the 13th Henan Provincial People's Congress, provincial people's representatives put forward a series of suggestions on environmental protection, and the Henan Provincial Department of Environmental Protection responded to the representatives' suggestions.
Recommendation 1: How to dispose of used electric vehicle batteries? Representatives suggest accelerating the construction of a waste lead-acid battery recycling system.
With the increasing number of electric vehicle users, what should be done with the batteries of these discarded electric vehicles? During this year's provincial "Two Sessions," some representatives suggested accelerating the construction of a waste lead-acid battery recycling system in Henan Province. Currently, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has clearly included waste lead-acid batteries in the category of hazardous waste.
Response: Expedite the formulation of the "Pilot Program for the Collection and Disposal of Waste Lead-Acid Batteries".
In 2017, my country's waste lead-acid batteries reached approximately 6 million tons. These batteries contain 74% lead, which is recyclable. However, currently, individual collectors, illegal lead recycling companies, and illegal battery manufacturers form an unregulated "off-the-books" industrial chain for waste lead-acid batteries. In 2017, the Provincial Environmental Protection Department, in conjunction with the public security system, launched a special operation to crack down on illegal lead smelting, dismantling 40 illegal sites. Next, the Provincial Environmental Protection Department will expedite the formulation and issuance of the "Pilot Program for the Collection and Disposal System of Waste Lead-acid Batteries," selecting 1-3 regions for pilot implementation, and then gradually expanding it to the entire province. This aims to explore and construct a social source hazardous waste management system led by the government, with enterprises as the main body, and social organizations and the public participating together, thereby standardizing waste lead-acid battery recycling practices throughout the province.
Suggestion 2: Do people in your hometown still set off firecrackers during the Spring Festival? Representatives suggest banning fireworks and firecrackers in rural towns and villages.
During this year's provincial "Two Sessions", some representatives suggested formulating "Regulations on Prohibiting the Setting Off of Fireworks and Firecrackers in Townships and Rural Areas".
Answer: Due to rural customs and traditions, a complete ban on fireworks remains somewhat difficult.
In accordance with relevant regulations, the Provincial Environmental Protection Department forwarded its opinion to the Provincial Public Security Department. The opinion stated that the annual campaign to combat air pollution prioritizes the control and prohibition of fireworks and firecrackers, strictly requiring a ban in urban areas above the county level. However, due to rural customs and traditions, a complete ban remains challenging. The Provincial Environmental Protection Department will actively guide the adoption of green and civilized methods for celebrations and ancestral rites.
