Guangzhou's garbage classification practice in focus

Topics in Focus, a famous program of China's state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), launched a thorough report on Guangzhou's garbage classification legislation and its pilot in communities on Dec 18.

Topics in Focus launched a special report for Guangzhou's garbage sorting on Dec 18. [Photo/ycwb.com] 

According to the report, Guangzhou was the first city in the country to try out legislation of garbage classification. As early as 2011, Guangzhou took the lead in introducing the first government regulation that regulates the classification of domestic waste.

This year, the Standing Committee of Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress made a special legislation on domestic waste classification and is currently preparing the third trial to lift the power of the entire society to solve the garbage problem.

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development released in November this year, 46 cities in the Chinese mainland have started garbage sorting. However, there are only 12 such cities as Guangzhou that have made legislation on garbage classification, making the southern Chinese city the forefront in the country in garbage sorting.

The report also paid attention to Guangzhou's community-based garbage collection models.

"The glass bottles were just collected. Today I collected numerous bottles and a batch has been sent away," said Yuan Zhongyun, a sanitation worker in Yuexiu district. Since 2014, Yuexiu district has set up 24 waste glass collection points in the region similar to the Yuan's workplace. Citizens and surrounding catering enterprises sell waste glass to the collection points at a higher price than the average market price.

Yuan Zhongyun, a sanitation worker in Yuexiu district, collects glass bottles at a waste glass collection point. [Photo/ycwb.com] 

This classification model helps the district reduce 350 tons of waste every month. The saved waste disposal fees can later be used to subsidize sanitation spending and repay the public. It provides glass processing plants with good raw materials and integrates the original isolated garbage collection network with low value recyclables collection network.

Meanwhile, smart trash classification cans in Haizhu district also appeared in the report several times.

The trash cans featuring "internet plus" technology can distinguish whether the garbage is classified according to requirements and reward citizens with credit points. They have been applied in many communities in the district.

The smart trash classification cans in Haizhu district of Guangzhou. [Photo/ycwb.com]