SHANGHAI, May 10 -- The city plans to install more than 40 new sculptures on Chongming Island by 2010, some of which will be made from recycled materials such as old pop cans, to promote environmental protection, a city official said yesterday.

The sculptures will all have environmental themes as the city plans to turn Chongming into a modern ecological island with various resorts and residential complexes over the next few years.

"We will encourage artists from all over the world to contribute environmental ideas for the sculptures," said Zheng Jiashi, an official with the Shanghai Urban Sculpture Committee Office.

He said it's possible to make some sculptures with waste materials such as pop cans and used batteries to promote public awareness of environmental protection.

He said the government will collect a batch of sculptures from home and abroad and ordinary residents of Chongming Island will be given right to select their favorite designs.

Chongming is home to around 20 of the city's more than 1,000 sculptures. It sits at the Yangtze River mouth.