In Shanghai, foreign volunteers simulated the placement of various types of garbage using game props. Photo by Yang Jianzheng (People's Vision)

Since July 1, the "Shanghai Municipal Regulations on the Management of Domestic Waste", known as the "strictest" garbage classification measure in history, has been implemented for more than half a month. Some Shanghai citizens joked that "what kind of garbage is this" has now become a "soul-searching question" they need to face every day. For many overseas Chinese, this question is not difficult to answer.

In many Western countries, garbage classification has formed a relatively complete system and has become a part of life that people are accustomed to. In an interview with this newspaper, several overseas Chinese who have lived overseas for many years not only praised China's garbage classification action, but also shared their experiences and insights.

The key lies in the formation of habits

How to distinguish different types of garbage? This is the confusion faced by many Shanghai citizens since the "Shanghai Municipal Regulations on the Management of Domestic Waste" was officially implemented, and it has also become a hot topic discussed by many netizens and even major media. In fact, when they first arrived overseas, many overseas Chinese also encountered similar problems.

"When we first arrived in Japan, we also littered, but soon, people around us would help you pick it up." Liu Hong, who has lived in Tokyo for more than 20 years, still remembers that if he threw the wrong garbage, the neighbors would know who threw it and put it back at his doorstep with a note with precautions. Over time, the habit was formed and he stopped littering.

In Liu Hong's view, meticulousness is a major feature of Japan's garbage sorting. Different types of garbage must be handled on specific dates and time periods, and the garbage sorting standards in different regions are also different. Take Nerima Ward, Tokyo, where he lives, as an example. On Mondays and Thursdays, combustible garbage is thrown away, and on Tuesdays, recyclable garbage such as bottles, cans, and plastic barrels are thrown away. Large garbage including large furniture and home appliances must be handled in advance and affixed with special stickers. In addition, in order to allow foreigners who have just arrived to adapt to garbage sorting as soon as possible, Japan's district and city offices will also provide special manuals, and the community and landlords will also provide corresponding guidance.

Li Aping, chairman of the Federation of Chinese Associations in Germany, had a similar experience when he first arrived overseas. "We were really not used to it at first, and sometimes we just threw the waste paper into the trash can. Later, we were inspired by the German people's serious classification, and we also felt that this was our responsibility."

After the 1990s, Germany gradually refined the classification of daily garbage into several categories, including kitchen waste, waste paper, packaging materials, waste glass, other garbage, special toxic garbage, and large waste. "Germany's garbage classification is very detailed, and each item is very convenient to handle." Li Aping believes that this is an experience worth learning.

"The key lies in the formation of social habits." Sun Zhenbang, president of the New Zealand Chinese Youth Federation, introduced that New Zealand also has very detailed standards for garbage classification. In order to increase the participation of citizens, in Auckland, where he lives, the local government will also promote "organic garbage decomposition bins" containing earthworms to citizens for free. Citizens can use these decomposition bins to degrade garbage into fertilizers for irrigating their own gardens or vegetable gardens.

Make environmental protection demands a conscious action

Following Shanghai, the Beijing Municipal Urban Management Committee recently stated that Beijing will also push for hard measures to pilot a mechanism of "no classification, no collection and transportation" for domestic waste, forcing residential communities, enterprises, institutions and various public institutions to improve the effect of waste classification. It is reported that by the end of 2020, 46 key cities in China that are taking the lead in the pilot will basically have built a waste classification and treatment system.

"Waste classification itself is a very positive measure. Of course, some problems may arise during the pilot process, and we need to summarize experience." Zhang Jun, a lawyer appearing in the U.S. Supreme Court, suggested that we can appropriately refer to the "dual track system" of the government and the people in the United States in waste classification, that is, on the one hand, the federal government and the states have issued relevant laws, and on the other hand, educate the people to cultivate their awareness of waste classification from an early age. "Ultimately, let environmental protection demands become the spontaneous wishes of the people of the whole society."

Liu Hong also believes that education on waste classification is very important. "When my child was in kindergarten, the teacher taught him how to sort garbage. Only through bit by bit of training can children form a conscious awareness when they grow up." He introduced that in Japan, communities will hold lectures regularly to popularize the specific operating specifications and environmental protection knowledge of garbage sorting to the public, and will also print some relevant graphic materials and distribute them to each household for free.

In addition to the necessary popular science education, Sun Zhenbang suggested that for non-first- and second-tier cities and towns, methods that are more suitable for the habits of local people can be adopted, and measures can be taken according to local conditions to let them personally feel the significance and importance of participating in garbage sorting.

Some media have noticed that in recent times, in order to help Shanghai citizens get used to garbage sorting as soon as possible, many apps and mobile applets related to garbage disposal have emerged. In fact, in some countries, there are precedents for using new media to help people develop the habit of garbage sorting, and the effect is good.

Chen Daoyi, a Chinese who works for an Internet company in Toronto, Canada, said in an interview with the media that the local government will send each family a garbage recycling calendar every year, which includes an introduction to garbage sorting and information such as which kind of garbage will be collected on which day on the street where your home is located. "In addition, the government also has a special website and mobile phone APP, which can query classification information."

Garbage classification is the general trend

"Shanghai's new project (referring to garbage classification) is the most watched and largest urban garbage recycling plan in China's history." Bloomberg recently published an article saying that now, Shanghai residents are thinking and talking about garbage classification, whether on social networking sites, at home or in the community, which is a significant progress.

Overseas Chinese are very optimistic about China's solid steps in garbage classification.

"Garbage classification is the general trend." Zhang Jun believes that over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the Chinese people's environmental awareness has been significantly improved, and the degree of attention to topics such as garbage classification and environmental pollution control is also incomparable with the past. "Shanghai is undoubtedly in the forefront in terms of openness and international integration. I think it is very good for Shanghai to be a pioneer in environmental protection garbage classification."

Li Aping believes that China is on the right path of development. "In the middle of the 20th century, European countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom also experienced a period of rapid economic development, but they soon realized the importance of environmental protection to human development. The implementation of garbage classification is a great progress made by China in the field of environmental protection." In Li Aping's view, it takes time to do a good job of garbage classification, "but we must continue to work hard in this direction."

"This is a reflection of the fact that Shanghai and even China's social development has risen to a new stage. It is also an important measure for China to balance economic development with environmental protection, short-term economic returns and long-term sustainable development." Sun Zhenbang said.

Bloomberg predicts that from 2018 to 2050, the speed at which humans produce garbage will be more than twice the rate of population growth. As the world's largest developing country, the implementation of China's garbage classification measures is of great reference significance to many other countries.

"Man and nature should develop in harmony. While the economy is developing, the pursuit of quality of life and green waters and green mountains is a very natural development direction." Zhang Jun said that China's implementation of garbage classification will be of great benefit to the recycling of natural resources. China's experience is worth sharing and learning from by more countries.

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