Burning 2,333 counterfeit cigarette cartons generates 600 kWh power

A total of 2,333 cartons of counterfeit Zhonghua brand cigarettes were destroyed by burning in Zhenjiang, East China's Jiangsu province, on Wednesday, generating about 600 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity.

The counterfeit cigarettes, valued at more than 1 million yuan ($155,642), were seized by the police during a winter operation in Zhenjiang, and some were seized by the Zhenjiang Tobacco Monopoly Bureau in two raids.

Li Dongyun, deputy director of the Monopoly Office of the Zhenjiang Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, said this batch of counterfeit cigarettes is divided into two types: hard pack and soft pack, including 464 cartons soft packs and 1,869 cartons of hard packs.

All 2,333 cartons were thrown into huge garbage storage pits and were put into an incinerator by environmental workers.

"All of the fake cigarettes were incinerated in a refuse incinerator to generate electricity. After burning, these fake cigarettes can be converted into about 600 kWh of electricity, which can be used by a family for about a year," said Ma Jun, head of safety and environmental protection at Zhenjiang branch of China Everbright Environmental Energy Limited.