Beijing to enforce strict garbage sorting rules from next year

Beijing will enforce new strict garbage sorting rules starting in May next year.

The new regulation specifies that working units and people who produce household waste should be responsible for classifying garbage as kitchen waste, recyclables, hazardous waste and other waste.

Individuals in Beijing that fail to sort their trash will be subject to a fine of 200 yuan ($28.3), according to the newly amended regulation on domestic waste management.

Some large pieces of garbage, such as discarded furniture or household appliances, should be delivered to specific places, the regulation said.

For the express delivery and e-commerce industry, the regulation also called for companies to issue more electronic bills and use more recyclable boxes.

Beijing has carried out pilot trash sorting projects since early 1998, when the Dachengxiang community in Xicheng district became the first neighborhood to classify garbage. At the end of 2011, the city published China's first domestic waste management regulation, which took effect on March 1, 2012.

In July, the capital's urban management authorities said the city will push forward its waste sorting legislation soon, without giving a specific date.

According to local authorities, Beijing produces nearly 26,000 metric tons of domestic waste every day, and 29 garbage disposal facilities are already operating at full capacity.

In 2018, the capital collected 9.3 million tons of household waste.