IN 1998, China began to pilot garbage sorting in eight cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen by installing labeled waste bins on the streets.

Up to now, Shenzhen has installed 24,000 recycling bins for used batteries and 12,000 bins for collecting old fluorescent lights across the populous city and employed professional teams to dispose of the hazardous waste. In 2018, Shenzhen recycled 72 tons of batteries and 135 tons of lights.

Shenzhen aims to achieve full garbage classification in government buildings and public venues this year, according to a report released at the 30th session of the Sixth Standing Committee of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress in January.

The measure was adopted at selected housing estates last year. Currently, some 800 residential estates in the city have removed garbage bins from each floor of the residential buildings, and residents dispose of classified garbage at designated points in the estates.

Regulations on garbage classification have been drafted and submitted to the city government and the city’s legislature for approval. The government will provide more financial support for the introduction of new technologies, build a public education system and strengthen public awareness on garbage classification. Separately, three new garbage incinerators will be built and put into use this year, increasing the capacity for garbage incineration by 10,300 tons per day.