Raise the cost of sewage charges for various places

For some highly polluting manufacturing and processing companies, this winter is exceptionally “cold”. Shanghai recently announced that it will increase sewage charges three times in five years from next year. After the adjustment, the sewage charges for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, chemical oxygen demand, and ammonia nitrogen will be increased by 3.8 to 6.1 times. Previously, Beijing, Tianjin and other provinces and cities have raised the sewage charges first, and the sewage charges for some major pollutants after adjustment will be 14 to 15 times before adjustment. Since then, Nanjing and other cities will also increase sewage charges, which are expected to increase by more than five times.

Sewage charges nationwide "ups", in fact, as early as expected. In September this year, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection issued a joint circular to require adjustments to the levy charges. However, the magnitude of the increase in many cities exceeds market expectations, leaving some companies in the skittles. Individual companies even complain that the increase is too large and unscientific.

In fact, it is imperative to substantially increase the sewage charges. In Shanghai, for example, the sewage charges for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, chemical oxygen demand, and ammonia nitrogen are 1.26 yuan/kg, 1.26 yuan/kg, 1 yuan/kg, and 1.25 yuan/kg, respectively. The average treatment costs of major pollutants were 8 yuan/kg, 9 yuan/kg, 5 yuan/kg and 6 yuan/kg, equivalent to 5 to 7 times the current sewage charges. The cost of governance is much higher than the cost of pollution, leading companies to pay more sewage charges, and are not willing to spend money to improve the pollution control technology to reduce emissions and discharge emissions. In the long run, companies will form the wrong idea that "paying money will be able to relieve pollution." It will violate the environmental protection concept that govern pollution, and it will be irresponsible to future generations.

The purpose of the government's increase in sewage charges is not to collect more money from enterprises, but to take full advantage of the role of sewage charges in advancing pollution control and structural adjustment. It encourages companies that dare to use capital for effective pollution control. Do not think about corporate governance. Looking at this point, many companies that are good at pollution control will not be alarmed by the surge in sewage charges. Judging from the announced sewage charge adjustment programs in various places, the practice of low-level, low-concentration emission companies enjoying the "discount" of sewage charges has been widely adopted.

What needs to be reminded is that for the collection of sewage charges, the relevant departments should strengthen follow-up supervision, and in particular, strengthen the level of monitoring of pollutant discharge so that enterprises that have achieved full emission reduction and discharge benefits can enjoy incentives for leveraging the sewage charges. In some economically underdeveloped areas, it is necessary to prevent the idea of ​​treating sewage charges as local fiscal revenue. Otherwise, the original intention of inspiring corporate pollution control will be dissimilated, and sewage charges that rise for the sake of income will lose significance.