On May 1, Beijing started implementing its mandatory domestic waste sorting regulation passed at the end of 2019. Affecting over 21 million residents, this rule is part of the Central Government's garbage classification plan aiming to recycle 35 percent of the waste generated in 46 cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, by this year.

Every Beijing resident must separate their household trash into four groups: kitchen, recyclable, hazardous and other waste. The city administration can penalize those who fail to follow the scheme. The penalties include fines for individuals and heavier ones for businesses, which could go up to 50,000 yuan ($7,147) depending on the frequency.

The municipal government has taken several steps to implement and publicize the garbage-sorting practices. Different stakeholders like real estate and property management firms are responsible for their residential communities and public building owners for their assets. Different community activities are being organized like enlisting volunteers to explain garbage-sorting to residents and to monitor the differently colored waste bins placed strategically around the city.

The green bins are intended for kitchen waste, blue for recyclables, red for hazardous waste, and grey for other waste. Children and youths have also been included in the awareness process. They volunteer to make handicrafts and play fun games to encourage garbage sorting in their communities.

These steps are required because the city's waste disposal facilities are operating at maximum capacity as the waste grows. The city produced 9.3 million tons of household waste in 2018. Waste segregation, according to the China Association of Urban Environmental Sanitation, will reduce two thirds of waste, cut the disposal cost and reduce the amount of waste buried in landfills. This, in turn, will reduce the production of leachate, which pollutes the air and contaminates underground aquifers.

Beijing's success in implementing the garbage classification rules depends on the municipal government's work and ability to learn from the good examples of other cities like Shanghai. Shanghai, a city with over 26 million and generating over 9 million tons of household waste every year, was the first to implement the regulation on July 1, 2019.

Making the rules and setting a timeline are only the first step. To reach the established goals Beijing must improve its community engagement since the initiative is more about changing residents' waste management habits. This should be pursued on all fronts both online and offline.

A step in the right direction is the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Management's cooperation with a private company to launch Beijing Garbage Sorting, a mini-program on WeChat. Users can determine how to categorize their waste by inputting the items or uploading a photograph.

The municipal government should engage in more neighborhood effect plans by collaborating with communities to construct sanitation facilities and holding regular meetings to resolve any problem arising from promoting the facilities.

It should also increase its collaboration with non-governmental organizations and other social groups to select and train volunteers who would educate residents and ensure proper waste disposal at the public waste bins. These volunteers can also relay feedback to the government.

Beijing could also adopt an incentive structure like Shanghai's Green Account to promote waste sorting. This is an automated credit-goods exchange system where residents receive credits for correctly sorting their waste, which they can exchange for some goods.

Waste classification is an essential part of the Chinese Government's fight against environmental degradation, and Beijing is now on course to contribute to this.

The author is a Yenching Academy scholar at Peking University from Nigeria

(Printed Edition Title: Changing Old Habits)

Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar

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