Advice on the Reform to Advance Waste Classification in China
359
basis to keep the neighborhood clean. Owing to cooking habits in China, Chinese
households may produce a larger proportion of kitchen garbage which may have a
higher content of salt and oil. According to this, proper methods must be adopted
for classification, collection and disposal. Meanwhile, as a country in the primary
stage of socialism, China lags far behind developed countries in terms of access
to waste classification facilities, people’s awareness of environmental compliance
and government’s environmental enforcement. It is imperative to promote waste
classification by both guiding and mandatory measures. Sole dependence on judicial
means such as fines or detention to impose mandatory waste classification may lead to
widespread violations of the law and make it difficult to advance waste classification
efforts. In some neighborhoods, the Western model was borrowed, requiring residents
to throw away waste at a fixed time and designated sites, with many of the waste
bins removed. Due to a lack of awareness, pressure for time and some other reasons,
littering became a prominent problem, and cleaning staff are still required. To address
this problem, basic-level Party organizations and community organizations must play
a role to leverage the strength of socialism. In addition to waste collection at fixed time
and places and efforts to raise public awareness of waste classification, we should
also consider the special needs of some people to throw away waste in different time
periods, so as to promote waste classification effectively.
4 Coordinated Planning for and Scientific Management
of Waste Classification
First, we need to launch waste classification strategies, measures and requirements
in urban and rural areas in good coordination. In the new era, different strategies,
targets, priorities, policies and measures may be adopted in urban and rural areas, but
progress must be generally in sync. The housing conditions in urban and rural areas
are different. Rural areas, where each residential building is occupied by an individual
household, have an edge when it comes to waste classification, because it is easier
to determine whether residents have followed relevant rules and to grant rewards or
impose punishments accordingly. In advancing waste classification, rural areas, as
mostly acquaintance-based societies, also have advantages in its organizational structure in comparison with urban areas that are mostly stranger-based society. Therefore,
in a time of integrated and coordinated urban-rural development, we should adopt
differential management measures, organizational forms and incentives to promote
waste classification in urban and rural areas. In cities, it may be better to start from
public institutions, such as government organs, schools and hospitals, or hutong and
villa areas to accumulate experience and social influence before promoting it to a
wider scope. If conditions permit, waste classification can be advanced in villages
in the rural-urban fringe as well.
359
basis to keep the neighborhood clean. Owing to cooking habits in China, Chinese
households may produce a larger proportion of kitchen garbage which may have a
higher content of salt and oil. According to this, proper methods must be adopted
for classification, collection and disposal. Meanwhile, as a country in the primary
stage of socialism, China lags far behind developed countries in terms of access
to waste classification facilities, people’s awareness of environmental compliance
and government’s environmental enforcement. It is imperative to promote waste
classification by both guiding and mandatory measures. Sole dependence on judicial
means such as fines or detention to impose mandatory waste classification may lead to
widespread violations of the law and make it difficult to advance waste classification
efforts. In some neighborhoods, the Western model was borrowed, requiring residents
to throw away waste at a fixed time and designated sites, with many of the waste
bins removed. Due to a lack of awareness, pressure for time and some other reasons,
littering became a prominent problem, and cleaning staff are still required. To address
this problem, basic-level Party organizations and community organizations must play
a role to leverage the strength of socialism. In addition to waste collection at fixed time
and places and efforts to raise public awareness of waste classification, we should
also consider the special needs of some people to throw away waste in different time
periods, so as to promote waste classification effectively.
4 Coordinated Planning for and Scientific Management
of Waste Classification
First, we need to launch waste classification strategies, measures and requirements
in urban and rural areas in good coordination. In the new era, different strategies,
targets, priorities, policies and measures may be adopted in urban and rural areas, but
progress must be generally in sync. The housing conditions in urban and rural areas
are different. Rural areas, where each residential building is occupied by an individual
household, have an edge when it comes to waste classification, because it is easier
to determine whether residents have followed relevant rules and to grant rewards or
impose punishments accordingly. In advancing waste classification, rural areas, as
mostly acquaintance-based societies, also have advantages in its organizational structure in comparison with urban areas that are mostly stranger-based society. Therefore,
in a time of integrated and coordinated urban-rural development, we should adopt
differential management measures, organizational forms and incentives to promote
waste classification in urban and rural areas. In cities, it may be better to start from
public institutions, such as government organs, schools and hospitals, or hutong and
villa areas to accumulate experience and social influence before promoting it to a
wider scope. If conditions permit, waste classification can be advanced in villages
in the rural-urban fringe as well.