Push to sort out household waste

ON MONDAY, Shanghai's first regulation on domestic waste management will come into effect, which requires residents to sort their garbage before putting it into garbage cans. There are potential fines of up to 200 yuan ($29) for individual violators and up to 50,000 yuan for offending organizations. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

There are still days to go before the regulation officially comes into effect, yet jokes about which bit of an item goes where have already been gaining popularity online. In some sense, they contain complaints from local residents because sorting their waste means more work.

But it is something that should be rolled out nationwide, as it is for the common good of all. Sorted garbage is a resource - paper and metal can be recycled, and kitchen waste can be fermented to produce energy.