Shanxi's first public–private partnership (PPP) project for improving the living environment of rural areas has recently been launched, as the Shanxi government signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanxi branch of the Agricultural Development Bank Of China on Feb 28.

According to the agreement, the bank will offer a loan worth 3.6 billion yuan ($521.70 million) to 11 local demonstration counties for rural garbage disposal, such as Qingxu and Lingqiu counties, and eight pilot counties for the comprehensive utilization of polluted water, including Pingshun and Xiaoyi counties. The loan will also be used for refurbishing 360,000 rural restrooms.

The local government will put a further 900 million yuan ($130.45 million) into the joint project.

Shanxi aims to refurbish 2.16 million rural restrooms and ensure all villages have garbage facilities and cleaners by 2020. Villages which handle sewage are expected to reach 35 percent of the total as of 2020.

Apart from the PPP project, the province will complete garbage disposal in 30 major local counties and initiate the refurbishment of another 410,000 rural restrooms during 2017.