When millions of people are throwing away recyclables, waste management workers are unable to sort all the trash on time, and tons of waste go into garbage dumps, polluting the land and water nearby. When soil and water are contaminated with garbage, people get sick and their quality of life decreases. If people sort their recycling and trash properly, much less waste goes into the garbage dump and the earth becomes less polluted. Every community in Shanghai benefits from sorting its waste properly.
Shanghai requires its citizens to sort their waste when they take it to the trash-collection center in their residential community. How is this monitored? In my neighborhood, I am required to take my trash and recycling to the trash collection center at specific times. I can only take it in the morning or the evening. Volunteers stay at the trash collection center and help me make sure I have sorted everything properly. If I have sorted everything perfectly, I can get a coupon to use at a local store for when I buy groceries. This helps me and all of my neighbors become more responsible with waste management.
