China will intensify efforts on city garbage treatment as capacity falls short of demand amid fast urbanization,a government statement said Wednesday.

The surging amount of garbage produced in cities due to the country's fast urbanization exceeds treatment capacity and affects urban environment and social stability, said a statement released after the executive meeting of the State Council, presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

It calls for an awareness of the urgency and significance of greater efforts in garbage treatment, adding that the government will use legal, administrative, economic and technical means to strengthen treatment.

It said more than 80 percent of household garbage nationwide should receive non-hazardous treatment by 2015.

To achieve that goal, China will work to reduce production of household garbage by encouraging the use of gas and solar energy, vegetable baskets and cloth bags while restricting the use of one-off articles and over-packaging, the statement said.

It also promotes separating garbage for collection and treatment as well as recycling wasted or old products.

More efforts will be made to increase treatment facilities and step up monitoring over construction and operation of garbage treatment facilities, the statement said.

The government also pledged policy support to boost development of garbage treatment technology and equipment, to strengthen professionals training and protect the legitimate rights and interests of sanitation workers.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2011)