Beijing begins mandatory garbage sorting

A visitor learns about garbage sorting at a community center in Haidian District, Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Beijing on Friday began to carry out mandatory garbage sorting in new efforts to protect the environment.

With the city's newly revised household waste regulation taking effect, Beijing requires people to classify household waste into four categories: kitchen, recyclable, hazardous and other waste.

On Friday, garbage trucks of four different colors started to hit the road. The colors represent four different types of garbages.

For example, on one of the blue garbage trucks are pictures of waste paper, pop cans, glass cups and clothes, indicating that the vehicle collects recyclable garbage.

A community worker (R) explains to local residents about garbage sorting in Haidian District, Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Starting Friday, garbage bins of four different collecting purposes will be located in residential communities in Beijing.

The municipal comprehensive law-enforcing bureau of city administration is entitled to impose a fine from 1,000 yuan (around 142 U.S. dollars) to 50,000 yuan on organizations and from 50 yuan to 200 yuan on individuals in violation of the garbage sorting.

In 2019, Beijing's residential waste collection and transport volume was 10.116 million tonnes, with an average of 27,700 tonnes per day.

Garbage sorting practices have reached over 70 percent of housing estates in 18 cities, including Shanghai, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.