No Accumulation of Steps Can’t Lead to Thousand Miles
--Lowering stress level by classifying waste
Shanghai Pudong Foreign Language School,
Shanghai International Studies University
Author: Dongyi Jiang (13 years old), Shiyu Wan (12 years old),
Yuecheng Pan (12 years old)
Teacher: Hongfeng Ding
Introductions:
Industrial civilizationbrings us a lot of convenience, but it could lead to the problem of waste. Shanghai has 24 million residents, it’s a typical megacity in the urban agglomeration. It provides people with excellent lifestyles, at the same time, it is facing the challenge of ‘garbage siege’. The official statistics show that in 2010, Shanghai produces 18900 tons of every day. Calculated at the height of 1 meter, the size of rubbish is equivalent to about two an a half standard football field. If we don’t take any measurements, the poisonous gas and chemicals would cause the permanent damage to the environment and the health of human beings. Therefore, classifying and reducing the waste is the responsibility of every mangers and residents of the city.
Picture 1- The different trash bin of ‘Green Account’.
I. What is Green Account?
Green Account is originated by Shanghai Administration Department of Afforestation and City Appearance, which introduce residents be aware of classifying trash by means of stimulations. This Green Account set up ‘recyclable’, ‘dry waste’, ‘kitchen waste’ and ‘harmful waste’ different trash bins to those residents community who apply to open Green Account, and allocate Point Card for those residents whom can obtain points which can be used to exchange gifts or deduct some portion and utilities (watery and power) if they can put rubbish into the different trash bin correctly.
II. Present situation of Green Account
According to the investigation, Green Account has been carried out in some communities in Shanghai, or under be prepared in some places but some has not started. Green Account has covered 400,000 homes in 2014, 1,000,000 homes in 2015 and 2,000,000 homes in 2016. Thus garbage classification begins its good effects. About 2,400 tons kitchen garbage each day get disposed and used as resources in Shanghai at present, but there exists huge capacity to develop.
Picture 2– The rubbish is being disposed by the worker.
III.The existed problems
After investigating and interviewing many streets and residents’ communities, we found there are some problems about carrying out garbage classification policy thoroughly.
- Most residents don’t understand the meanings of garbage classification very well, and doubt why we take much time and energy to do such a thing.
- The points system of Green Account is not perfect which cannot arise residents’ initiative.
- No unified trash bin in different streets,districts and counties, classifying trash bin is like matching clothes at their will.
- No clear sighs on trash bins or unreasonable amounts of trash bins lead to no correct putting in.
Just because of people’s neglecting these trifles in life and based on large quantity of population, these will produce unavoidable environment pollution and harm people’s health.
Picture 3– Instructions of classifying rubbish
IV. The Comments and Advice
City garbage classification is a gradual improvement, which needs the combination of citizens,facilities and policy. In fact, rubbish classification requires continuous improving and perfect. No residents community gets worsen owing to setting Green Account,which can produce positive effects, We can start from simple garbage classification and reduction, solve out the disturbance of garbage siege.Meanwhile we should introduce serious law and policies about garbage classification. Besides, To unify trash bin in public in Shanghai is a prior thing,which can make efficient classification.
Nowadays in a speedy development times, solving out the problems of garbage brooks no delay. Do we set so serious problems beyond our consideration, regarding it as a piece of waste paper, or just a game?
V. References:
*participating life rubbish classification, beautifying city ecological environment—Interview Record of General engineer, Jiafu Tang.http://www.shbj.gov.cn/sites/wuzhangai_lhsr/neirong.aspx?ctgId=537aacd9-2c56-4e8d-8a93-f5b25f62bc26&infid=745bcb08-c6ae-4916-88f2-2e85cd4cc250
*Shanghai Administration Department of Afforestation and City Appearance, Shanghai Forestry Bureau
