In a move to promote garbage classification, Shenzhen is considering charging for garbage disposal based on quantity, according to a draft regulation handed down to lawmakers for review at a meeting of the city’s legislature Tuesday.
According to the draft, the city will adopt the polluter-pay principle and introduce differentiated fee collections for garbage disposal.
Presently, the city collects garbage disposal fees along with water bills. However, there is no correlation between the amount of garbage produced and water usage. This pricing system makes it difficult to raise residents’ awareness of reducing garbage.
The draft regulation classifies domestic garbage into four categories, namely recyclable, perishable, hazardous and other waste. The city has established a system to separate recyclable garbage into eight categories, namely glass, plastic, paper, large waste, plants and electronics waste. Kitchen waste, along with cooking waste, and vegetable and fruit waste, is included in the perishable waste category.
The city will gradually remove the dustbins from each floor of the apartment buildings in 3,478 housing estates so that domestic garbage can be centrally collected and classified.
To raise awareness and help residents form a habit, the city plans to impose 50-200 yuan (US$7-28) fines on households that fail to assort garbage according to the rules. The fines for institutions will range from 1,000 to 5,000 yuan. They can also choose to attend trainings or voluntary activities to be exempt from punishment.
Those who refuse to pay will be recorded in the social credit system.
The city disposes of 28,500 tons of garbage a day, of which 20,000 tons are incinerated or land-filled. Household garbage makes up 70 percent of the garbage that is processed by incineration or landfill.