Zhang Dejiang (3rd L), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presides over a meeting of the NPC Standing Committee, during which legislators reviewed a draft inspection report on law enforcement, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING -- China should make consistent efforts to enforce the law on solid waste pollution, top legislator Zhang Dejiang said Tuesday.

While China has made remarkable progress in solid waste control in recent years, law enforcement inspections have found that solid waste, including industrial and agricultural refuse, still abounds, Zhang said at a meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, during which legislators reviewed a draft inspection report on law enforcement. "

Officials must fully recognize that preventing and controlling solid waste is a long-term and arduous task, which requires strengthened law enforcement and an improved system," Zhang said.

Authorities must treat solid waste control as a top priority in their environmental protection efforts, while coordinated measures should be taken to control solid waste as well as air, water and soil pollution.

Zhang stressed that inspections of law enforcement on solid waste prevention are among the key tasks of the NPC Standing Committee this year, and officials should keep track of local correction efforts to make sure the law is effectively enforced.