'Three green systems' change Taizhou village for the better

Yangzhuang village in Xianju, a county-level city in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, has been seeking to revitalize itself via the "three green systems" since 2017.

The three green systems refer to green treaties, green currency, and green mediation.

The green treaties are meant to increase civility among villagers by getting rid of outdated ideas and bad habits and encouraging them to participate in rural management, according to Lou Jianjun, head of Yangzhuang.

These treaties include 10 parts, mainly focusing on environmental protection, household garbage classification, courtyard renovation, and rural industrial development.

Green currency is an incentive used to award villagers who properly classify household garbage, improve courtyards, or volunteer to participate in rural management.

Lou said that holders of green currency can use it as real money － one green coin is worth one yuan ($0.14) － at participating stores or exchange it for gifts at Villager Service Centers.

Green mediation refers to the combination of dispute mediation with efforts to improve the natural environment. For example, residents will be made to plant three trees for the village or do two days of community service as punishment for their quarrels or disputes.