Classification of trash

Many factors matter when it comes to sustainable urban life. The safe treatment of trash is one of them. Beijing is asking its citizens for opinions about the proposed garbage classification rules that it intends to introduce to better manage trash, a step toward its goal of reducing the total amount of trash and achieving sustainable treatment of it.

The draft regulations stipulate that individuals who violate trash classification rules will face fines of between 20 to 200 yuan and the fine for work units will be from 5,000 to 50,000 yuan. Individuals or work units who do a good job of reducing the total amount of trash they produce will receive rewards.

So far, classification of trash has only been practiced in some communities on a trial basis and investigations show that most residents are yet to develop the awareness and habit of sorting trash into different receptacles. Even in those pilot communities, some residents ignore the different trash cans and throw bags of mixed waste into the nearest can.