Abstract: Whether the environmental NGOs were absent or present in the NIMBY conflicts in China is a controversial issue both in theory and practice.Through continuous observation on and analysis of the actions of five garbage-related NGOs in the events of the opposition to the construction of garbage incineration plants,we may regard that their strategies were both absent and present.On the one hand,different from the western radical environmental NGOs in NIMBY conflicts,they were actually absent in the direct organizing and promoting work in the NIMBY conflicts in a sense,failing to become the leaders and promoters in protecting civil environmental rights;on the other hand,many Chinese environmental NGOs were present if we take the whole environmental governance chains of NIMBY conflicts into consideration.Born in struggle and separated from it,they have succeeded in feeding the governance of NIMBY conflicts following direct and indirect ways after the three stages of "acquiring-expanding-performing".The findings provide useful enlightenment for China's NIMBY risk response,environmental dilemma and the cultivation of social organizations.

Key words: NIMBY struggle, NIMBY conflict, environmental NGO, garbage treatment