Responding to a call by China’s environmental protection authority for an improvement in the sorting of household garbage, the northeastern city of Harbin is speeding up the establishment of refuse collection stations in its urban areas.

Information from Zhongya Environmental Protection Technology Co Ltd reveals that the city will initially set up around 900 refuse stations in six of its urban districts -- Songbei, Daoli, Daowai, Xiangfang, Nangang and Pingfang -- to implement the trash sorting program.

The new refuse points will each have a smart rubbish sorting bin, an electric recycling vehicle and a points redemption machine. In addition,, an app will soon be launched for recording residents’ garbage-sorting history, earning them credits and to set up appointments for special door-to-door household rubbish pickups.

After placing their refuse into smart garbage sorting bins, residents will get points, which can be used in exchange for daily necessities such as cups of soap and water at designated service stations, as a reward for their eco-friendly behavior.

For some large items of recyclable garbage, such as used household appliances, residents can make an appointment for door-to-door recycling pickups through the app.

The recyclables will be transported to the Harbin Recycle Economic Industrial Park for large-scale, standardized and harmless disposal; and hazardous waste will be transported for disposal to companies with processing qualifications.

According to the work plan, every 1,000 to 2,000 households in the six districts will be allocated with a refuse station for household garbage sorting and recycling. Meanwhile, two supervisors will be in charge of each point to guide the garbage sorting; while one volunteer will be appointed for every 300-500 households to offer help.

Officials said that by implementing the refuse sorting program, the government intends to increase residents’ garbage sorting awareness and improve their behavior in recycling resources.

A staff member from Zhongya Environmental Protection Technology Co Ltd briefs Harbin residents on March 31 on how to operate the intelligent garbage sorting bins. [Photo/dbw.cn]

Volunteers hand out information to locals about the new intelligent garbage sorting bins. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Volunteers fill locals in on the new refuse sorting program. [Photo/chinanews.com]