Photo taken on April 11, 2016 shows staff members of Xuzhou Municipal People's Procuratorate going on a trial as the public interest litigator against Xuzhou Hongshun Paper Manufacturing. [Photo: legaldaily.com.cn]

China's first public interest litigation on environmental pollution went to trial in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province on April 11, 2016.

Local prosecutors are demanding compensation of around 270,000 yuan or around 41,000 US dollars from a local paper making company, and that the company take steps to repair environmental damage it has caused.

Investigation shows that Xuzhou Hongshun Paper Manufacturing privately built drain pipes between 2013 and 2015 to discharge waste water into Subeidi River and other nearby rivers.

Experts say over 2,600 tons of waste water was dumped into the rivers, causing great damage to the environment.

The company has been sanctioned three times for the discharge.