China’s nuclear weapons scientist Du Xiangwan clarifies role in nation’s war on waste

One of China's leading nuclear scientists has publicly clarified his role in the country's burgeoning waste-to-energy sector. Du Xiangwan, a veteran nuclear weapons physicist and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, confirmed in a June 2 press release that he and his team had provided research and consulting for the pilot "zero-waste cities" project.

This initiative is a cornerstone of China's environmental strategy, aiming to eliminate rubbish and historical landfills. However, Du explicitly stated that he had never participated in projects that applied nuclear technology to waste incineration, nor had he authorized anyone to do so.

The clarification addresses years of online speculation suggesting that China's waste-incineration industry benefited from expertise originally developed for its nuclear weapons and submarine programs. Commentators popularized the idea with the phrase "using nuclear submarine technology to burn rubbish," arguing that concepts from the nuclear sector, such as systems engineering and strict operational management, shaped the waste-to-energy industry.

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using nuclear submarine technology to burn rubbish