Wuzhou, located on the banks of the Xijiang River, has become the "pioneer" of the "waste-to-treasure" industry in Guangxi through a 20-year-long industrial layout.

In 2005, Wuzhou took the development of the imported recycled resources processing industry as an opportunity to integrate numerous small-scale waste product dismantling enterprises and continuously promote the accelerated development of the resource recycling and utilization industry. Over the past 20 years, Wuzhou has made multi-directional efforts and formed a cluster of recycled new materials industries featuring rich varieties, concentrated resources and a large number of enterprises. Ma Tianbao, deputy director of the Bureau of Industry and Information Technology of Wuzhou City, said.

At present, Wuzhou has established a new recycled materials industry covering six major fields including recycled stainless steel, recycled copper, recycled plastics, recycled paper and the recycling and utilization of rare and precious metals. It has initially built a circular economy industrial chain featuring "recycling - dismantling - rough processing - deep processing - terminal products and trade integration", with upstream, midstream and downstream enterprises interconnected and coordinated. We have planned an annual recycling resource volume of 10 million tons. We have cultivated 49 large-scale enterprises in the recycled new materials industry. In 2024, the industrial output value of large-scale enterprises is expected to reach 63.3 billion yuan, an increase of 23% year-on-year, accounting for more than one-third of the total industrial output value of large-scale enterprises in the city.

For the circular industry to achieve a true closed loop, both the upstream recycling layout and the downstream terminal product manufacturing are indispensable.

The production workshop of Hongyi New Materials' high-end stainless steel products deep processing project. Photo by Wu Sisi, Xinhua News Agency

The spacious space is constructed with grey steel frames, and the eye-catching orange production lines are lined up like long snakes, operating in an orderly and efficient manner. The high-end stainless steel products deep processing project of Hongyi New Materials in Wuzhou, Guangxi was successfully put into operation in August. The stainless steel it produces is precisely a key project for Wuzhou City to expand the downstream industrial chain of recycled new materials.

Unlike the traditional production scene of "sparks flying and heat waves scorching", in this clean, orderly and highly intelligent modern workshop, only a few workers are operating the equipment in the vast factory. On the huge screen in the central control room, various data are jumping in real time, and the full picture of the production process is clearly displayed. Since 2021, the enterprise has been continuously promoting intelligent transformation and introducing large artificial intelligence models. Not only has the production efficiency increased significantly, but the workers have also all become neatly dressed operators. The company's president, Wang Wenhui, said.

The intelligent operation room clearly presents the full picture of the production process. Photo by Wu Sisi, Xinhua News Agency

When it comes to artificial intelligence, Wang Wenhui, who has been in the industry for over 30 years, can't hide his excitement. He did the math for the reporter: With the "support" of AI models, for every ton of stainless steel produced, 13 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 1.5% of raw material consumption can be saved, and the yield rate has also increased from 98.6% to 99.2%. "Previously, every step was controlled by experienced masters. Now, AI can precisely control it, which is equivalent to having an additional master who is not only experienced but also quick to learn. Safety, efficiency and quality have all been greatly improved." " Wang Wenhui said.

From policy dividends to a closed chain, the resource recycling industry in Wuzhou has already produced an agglomeration effect. The General Office of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region previously issued the "Action Plan for Supplementing, Strengthening and Extending the Chain of Key Advantageous Industries in Guangxi's Manufacturing Industry", clearly stating its support for Wuzhou City to build a national-level resource recycling industry cluster.

From October 17th to 20th, the first China "2025 Recycled New Materials Conference" with the theme of "Great Circulation of Industrial Materials and Great Development of Green Economy" was held in Wuzhou. We will take the conference as a "springboard" to facilitate the intelligent and high-end development of industries, deepen technological cooperation, and promote the transformation of industries from mid-to-low end to mid-to-high end, from raw materials to new materials, and from low added value to high added value. Next, we will also address the shortcomings in industrial development by optimizing the industrial structure of resource recycling and utilization from aspects such as building a complete recycling system, upgrading the entire industrial chain, and promoting technological transformation and upgrading of enterprises." Ma Tianbao said.