Advice on the Reform to Advance Waste Classification in China
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with reductions or exemptions. Waste classification standards vary across cities.
Waste is classified into recyclable, non-recyclable, hazardous and other waste in
some cities, dry waste, wet waste and other waste in some other cities, and dry and
wet waste in still other places, especially in rural areas. Complicated classification
standards may be difficult to follow even for professionals. In making waste classification standards, we should follow a fact-based approach and ensure that the
standards are neither too general nor too specific. The standards, aiming to save
resources and protect the environment, should be easy to understand and follow. To
ensure the effect of waste classification, we must make sure that our work is well
coordinated, the measures are properly designed, and the systems are sufficiently
feasible.
To promote waste classification in China, we need to introduce new long-term
mechanisms for funding, operation and cleaning of facilities, awareness raising,
evaluation, and reward and punishment. For funding in rural areas, in addition to
charging households for waste disposal, the government, the village collectives and
high-profile local residents should also play their roles by giving subsidies, rewards,
or donations. In urban areas, in addition to waste disposal fees collected from households, government funding should be the mainstay. For the operation and cleaning of
facilities, in rural areas, villagers, especially disadvantaged people, may do the work
while village authorities may provide the funding. In rich rural areas, such tasks
may be contracted to dedicated service providers in a market-based manner, and
the same may also apply to urban areas according to unified plans of local governments. To raise public awareness and encourage people to participate in waste classification, in districts, sub-districts, townships, neighborhoods and villages where
mandatory waste classification is universal, residents, Party members, officials at all
levels and the cleaning staff should all play an active role, disseminating relevant
knowledge and call for good practices through education, rewards and warnings.
This will enable urban and rural residents in demonstration areas for waste classification to develop good habit of waste classification, and influence other with their
green lifestyle. To ensure the implementation of relevant plans, we need to organize assessment of the waste classification performance of relevant authorities and
organizations, including governments at the township and sub-district level, property management services, neighborhood committees, village Party committees and
villagers’ committees. Rewards and punishment shall be based on the assessment
results, and the performance in waste classification and environmental remediation
shall be linked with salary. These measures will stimulate the enthusiasm among the
general public to practice waste classification in more areas and move towards to
goal of universal waste classification in cities at and above the prefecture level by
2025.
361
with reductions or exemptions. Waste classification standards vary across cities.
Waste is classified into recyclable, non-recyclable, hazardous and other waste in
some cities, dry waste, wet waste and other waste in some other cities, and dry and
wet waste in still other places, especially in rural areas. Complicated classification
standards may be difficult to follow even for professionals. In making waste classification standards, we should follow a fact-based approach and ensure that the
standards are neither too general nor too specific. The standards, aiming to save
resources and protect the environment, should be easy to understand and follow. To
ensure the effect of waste classification, we must make sure that our work is well
coordinated, the measures are properly designed, and the systems are sufficiently
feasible.
To promote waste classification in China, we need to introduce new long-term
mechanisms for funding, operation and cleaning of facilities, awareness raising,
evaluation, and reward and punishment. For funding in rural areas, in addition to
charging households for waste disposal, the government, the village collectives and
high-profile local residents should also play their roles by giving subsidies, rewards,
or donations. In urban areas, in addition to waste disposal fees collected from households, government funding should be the mainstay. For the operation and cleaning of
facilities, in rural areas, villagers, especially disadvantaged people, may do the work
while village authorities may provide the funding. In rich rural areas, such tasks
may be contracted to dedicated service providers in a market-based manner, and
the same may also apply to urban areas according to unified plans of local governments. To raise public awareness and encourage people to participate in waste classification, in districts, sub-districts, townships, neighborhoods and villages where
mandatory waste classification is universal, residents, Party members, officials at all
levels and the cleaning staff should all play an active role, disseminating relevant
knowledge and call for good practices through education, rewards and warnings.
This will enable urban and rural residents in demonstration areas for waste classification to develop good habit of waste classification, and influence other with their
green lifestyle. To ensure the implementation of relevant plans, we need to organize assessment of the waste classification performance of relevant authorities and
organizations, including governments at the township and sub-district level, property management services, neighborhood committees, village Party committees and
villagers’ committees. Rewards and punishment shall be based on the assessment
results, and the performance in waste classification and environmental remediation
shall be linked with salary. These measures will stimulate the enthusiasm among the
general public to practice waste classification in more areas and move towards to
goal of universal waste classification in cities at and above the prefecture level by
2025.