Shenzhen Excavates Landfill to Fuel Tech Expansion
SHENZHEN, CHINA – In a dramatic move to address critical land scarcity, the Chinese tech hub of shenzhen is undertaking a $307 million (2.17 billion yuan) project to relocate a massive landfill from the city center.The effort, which involves detoxifying and removing 2.55 million cubic meters (90.05 million cubic feet) of waste, will free up 30 hectares (74 acres) of land for development – enough space to create over 1 million square meters (10.76 million sq ft) of new floor space.
Shenzhen, a city synonymous with China’s rapid economic transformation, faces unique spatial challenges. Despite boasting the third-highest gross domestic product among mainland Chinese cities at 3.68 trillion yuan ($520.6 billion) in 2022 and a population of 18 million, its area of approximately 2,000 sq km (772 square miles) is substantially smaller than those of Shanghai and Beijing. This land constraint is now driving innovative solutions, including the ambitious landfill relocation.
The landfill, operational between 1983 and 1997, was initially situated on the periphery of a developing city. However, Shenzhen’s explosive growth has enveloped the site, transforming it into an undesirable eyesore and potential environmental hazard. The reclaimed land is slated to house facilities supporting key industries, including artificial intelligence servers, biotech labs, and studios for modern manufacturing and art & design.
Home to tech giants like Tencent, Huawei Technologies, BYD, and DJI, Shenzhen’s development is increasingly hampered by its limited geographical footprint, making projects like this crucial for continued economic expansion.
