The world's biggest plastics recycling processing plant, capable of recycling 60,000 tons of waste annually, has begun operating in Beijing.

Operated by Beijing Incom Resources Recovery Co, the plant cost 300 million yuan ($37.5 million), Li Ping, director of the Beijing municipal industry promotion bureau, said yesterday.

He said the plant's annual capacity equaled one-third of the city's total waste in plastics, and would result in 30,000 tons of clean polyester and 20,000 tons of polyester chips - equivalent to a saving of 300,000 tons of petroleum annually.