变天了，中国居然缺垃圾了

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese waste management industry is facing an unexpected challenge of insufficient waste for incineration, with an average incineration plant operating at only 60% capacity, leading to over 40% of capacity being idle [1][15][29]. Group 1: Current Situation of Waste Management - The total waste processing capacity in China exceeds that of the US, Japan, and Europe combined, with over 1,000 waste incineration power plants built in just seven years [14][15]. - Many incineration plants are struggling with insufficient waste, leading to operational disruptions, such as in Jiangsu where 30% of plants operate intermittently due to lack of waste [8][17]. - The implementation of waste classification policies has reduced the amount of burnable waste, with some regions seeing a decrease of up to 30% in incinerable materials [19][28]. Group 2: Reasons for Insufficient Waste - Over-construction of incineration facilities has occurred due to aggressive planning, with some small counties building plants with capacities far exceeding local waste generation [17][19]. - The introduction of mandatory waste sorting has led to a significant reduction in the volume of waste available for incineration, particularly with the separation of wet waste [19][28]. - Increased competition among waste management companies has intensified the "garbage grab" phenomenon, where companies offer incentives to secure waste [21][25]. Group 3: Environmental Impact and Future Outlook - The lack of waste for incineration is seen as a sign of improved waste management efficiency, but it also highlights regional disparities, with smaller cities still facing waste accumulation issues [29][31]. - The rise of e-commerce and single-use packaging continues to pose challenges, as these contribute to secondary pollution risks [32][36]. - The advancement of waste-to-energy technologies is leading to international expansion, with Chinese standards and practices being applied to manage waste in Southeast Asia [37][38].