Guangzhou unveiled a new waste management policy this month that aims to get people to think more carefully about how they dispose of their trash. Residents will use special garbage bags from this month that include marks to identify owners, but names and addresses won't be shown. If a resident doesn't sort recyclable materials they face fines of up to 2,000 yuan ($314). Could such a scheme be effective in Beijing? Would it help improve waste management in the city? Is there a similar scheme in your home country to encourage people to sort recyclable materials from trash? Xiang Xiangping and Jessica Li hit the streets to talk trash with expats.

 

Carolina Vukojicic, student, Serbia

I don't like this policy. It might help improve waste management and better protect the environment, but it's so extreme. In Serbia, designated bins for garbage and recyclable materials are common, but people still throw away garbage in the wrong bins without paying attention to which one should be used.

Joi Chu-Ketterer, student, Canada

It will definitely improve the garbage classification in Guangzhou and I fully support it. It will give people more initiative to recycle and give the government more control over garbage disposal. Beijing should take the same action because it will benefit the city a lot and create a cleaner environment for everyone. I'm not sure if Canada has the same measure, but I don't think they do.

 

Carrey Smith, stay-at-home mom, US

There have never been such a kind of regulation in the US. We just separate different types of garbage out of self-awareness. In some particular states, there are people who check trash bins regularly.

If you fail to classify your garbage properly, you may get a letter from the local waste management center, but there is no punishment.

Celia Lee, student, US

I feel that the garbage classification policy will initially cause trouble for people, but it will create long-term positive outcomes. The policy will gradually help Chinese society reach its ultimate goal of creating a pristine style of living. It may be harder for people and the government in Beijing to adopt such a policy because the population is larger. But I hope good organization and leadership from government officials could lead to its success. The US doesn't have similar regulations, but recycling bins are more readily available and more people are willing to take the time to sort their trash.

Ken Fontenot, teacher, US

I'm against it. Having personal data on garbage bags will help crooks find out a lot more about people. Their private information will surely be leaked. I don't know if it would work in Beijing because there are so many people here, so it's difficult to adopt the policy. In the US, people just throw away garbage as they please. If a politician in the US proposed such a policy, there would be strong opposition. Americans usually don't follow what their government preaches. I think garbage classification really helps recycling, which is important. But there should be more appropriate measures to encourage it.