In order to curb environmental pollution and upgrade local industry, from 2015 to 2020 China's Hebei Province will gradually increase its pollution discharge fees in three steps, as announced by the provincial authorities.
During the period of China's 11th five-year plan (2006-2010), Hebei Province had increased its pollution discharge fees to twice the level of the national standard. In 2013, Hebei Province charged 19,515 enterprises a combined total of RMB 1.667 billion ($0.27 billion) in pollution discharge fees, mainly affecting companies in the thermal power generation, steel, oil, chemical, ferrous metal mining and cement industries.
However, with the rapid development of the local economy, current pollution discharge fees are still relatively low, and so some enterprises are willing to pay discharge fees instead of installing anti-pollution equipment.