CHINA is sending more than 5 million cars to the scrapheap this year as part of its efforts to clean up the country’s air.

The move is included in a State Council document detailing emission reduction targets for a range of industries.

In a wide-ranging action plan to cut emissions over the next two years, the State Council said the country had already fallen behind in its pollution targets over the 2011-2013 period and was now having to step up its efforts.