And according to CAEPI, there is actually more untreated garbage if annual figures take into account counties and towns, which are usually not well-equipped with disposal facilities.

The picture becomes bleaker by 2015 when about one-third of China's 700 landfills will reach their capacity, according to China International Engineering Consulting Corp.

This very grim outlook is fueling Mora's push for more incineration plants and betting on China's waste-to-energy industry.

"I have no doubts that incineration plants are needed in China more than landfills, just because available lands are scarce in China," Mora said.

He said he is expecting an annual 10-percent increase in Veolia's revenue in garbage management in China in the next five to 10 years. Veolia's revenue in China is about $1 billion and is regarded by company officials as an important source of revenue for the France-headquartered company, which made $54 billion globally last year.

The two waste-to-energy plants on the mainland and the six plants in Taiwan contribute a relatively small slice to Veolia's business in China, which has 37 projects in various types of disposal facilities.

Xu Haiyun, secretary-general for the municipal solid waste treatment committee with CAEPI, echoed Mora's sentiments, saying the number of incineration plants in China will likely double by the end of 2015.

"There are around 90 waste-to-energy plants in China and I think there will be at least another 80 to 90 in the next five years," Xu said.