The Chinese government has implemented a national pilot scheme called “Zero Waste cities”, focused on eradicating waste. The scheme will run from May 2019 and is expected to finish in 2021; thereafter, the results of the pilot will be used to generate an expansion of the initiative nationally. There are three main goals:
中国政府实施了一项名为“零浪费城市”的国家试点计划，重点是消除浪费。该计划将从2019年5月开始实施，预计2021年结束。此后，试点的结果将用于在全国范围内扩大该倡议。有三个主要目标：
1) Control the increase of industrial waste i.e. minimising generation of waste (Reduce)
2) Maximise utilisation of main agricultural waste to 100% (Reuse)
3) Instill a strong prohibition of illegal dumping of solid waste, and improve/increase recycling centre use. (Recycle)
1) 控制工业废物的增加，即尽量减少产生废物(减少)
2) 尽量将主要农业废物的使用率提高至100%(再利用)
3) 大力禁止非法倾倒固体废物，并改善/增加废物回收中心的使用。(回收)
Within these goals there is an emphasis on the “Three R concept” (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.) This Concept aids the schemes’ function as an urban management strategy, progressively working towards zero waste.
在这些目标中，强调了三个R概念(减少、再利用和回收)，这一概念有助于这些计划发挥城市管理战略的作用，逐步实现零浪费。
Separated recycling bin points in Shanghai
在上海，设有不同的垃圾回收箱
How is the scheme going to be implemented and measured?
该计划将如何实施和衡量？
The Chinese government issued a work plan of action and measurement, detailing tasks incorporating social, economic and environmental values.
中国政府发布了《行动与措施工作计划》，将社会、经济和环境价值纳入工作内容。
They include:
- Establishing a national consistent system for waste and recycling
- Promote green mining
- Promote green lifestyle and green products
- Financial support for green progress e.g. environmental pollution insurance, green finance etc.
- Involve third party enterprises specialising in solid waste utilisation and pollution control is encouraged
- Include waste classification and treatment of solid waste into cities’ infrastructure
它们包括：
——建立全国统一的垃圾回收利用体系
——促进绿色矿业
——推广绿色生活方式和绿色产品
——为绿色发展提供资金支持，如环境污染保险、绿色金融等。
——鼓励从事固体废物利用及污染管制的第三方企业参与
——将垃圾分类和固体废物处理纳入城市基础设施
Street cleaning of littering in Wuhan City - not part of the scheme however
武汉市街道垃圾清理——虽然这并不是该计划的一部分
Unofficial rubbish site, close by to water system in Suzhou - Rubbish leaking into household use water
苏州的一个非官方垃圾填埋场，其靠近供水系统，垃圾渗进生活用水
Who is involved?
参与对象有哪些？
Ten cities across China have been selected to take part because of their urgency to resolve their poorly managed waste systems. The cities include: Ordos and Panzihua as the largest general waste contributors; Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou who generate the largest amount of medical waste; and Suzhou and Yantai who are the two largest cities producing the most hazardous waste. Chengdu, Hangzhou and Schenzhen are other significant waste generating cities taking part also.
全国已有10个城市入选，这些城市迫切需要解决垃圾处理系统管理不善的问题。这些城市包括:鄂尔多斯和攀枝花，它们是最大的一般垃圾产生地;北京、上海和广州，这些城市产生最多医疗垃圾;苏州和烟台，它们是最大的两个产生有害垃圾的城市。成都、杭州和深圳也参与了这一活动。
Over 60 cities applied to take part in the scheme, signifying a national desire to improve China’s waste and recycling system!
超过60个城市申请参与该计划，这展现了想要改善中国的垃圾回收系统的共同愿望。
Moreover, green enterprises also have the opportunity to get involved. They can promote a new perspective on pollution control and easily deliver a sustainable way of living, offering a range of green products for citizens and businesses to become waste free.
此外，绿色企业也有机会参与其中。这些企业可以推广关于污染控制的新观点，并轻松地传递出可持续的生活方式，为公民和企业提供一系列绿色产品，从而减少浪费。
Why is the scheme being introduced?
为何推行这项计划？
The scheme materialised in response to China’s waste import ban. China bought 45% of the worlds plastic for recycling, however, did not have the sufficient means to be able to recycle/process it properly. This has generated a stock pile of 60 to 70 billion metric tons of solid waste in need of being processed; in addition to the new 10 billion tons of solid waste generated every year.
该计划是为回应中国的废物进口禁令而实施的。中国之前购买了世界45%的塑料用于回收，但是却没有足够的手段来回收/处理它们。这就产生了600亿至700亿公吨需要处理的固体废物，这还不包括每年新产生的100亿吨固体废物。
There is a high generation of waste solely within China. For example, China makes up for 28% of global plastic production/pollution. This accentuates the need for the scheme. Investing in well managed recycling bases and eradicating the concept of landfill, is needed to enter a circular economy. Jiang Jianguo, a professor at Tsinghua University’s school of environment, supports this notion, stating “ A sound waste utilisation industry is needed to absorb and convert waste into new products after classification.” Without the correct infrastructure, a sustainable circular economy cannot be generated.
单单在中国国内就有大量的垃圾产生。例如，中国占全球塑料生产/污染的28%。这突出了对该计划的需要。想要进入循环经济，就必须投资建设管理良好的回收基地，并且消除“垃圾填埋场”的概念。清华大学环境学院教授蒋建国支持这一观点，他表示，需要一个健全的垃圾利用产业来回收并将垃圾分类后转化为新产品。没有正确的基础设施，就不可能形成可持续的循环经济。
Therefore, although the import ban halts the movement of overseas waste, this scheme should and hopefully, actively make a difference among citizens, by encouraging a circular economy lifestyle; thus generating zero waste. 因此，尽管进口禁令阻止了海外垃圾的流入，但这一计划应该——而且有望——通过鼓励循环经济生活方式，积极改变公民的生活方式，从而产生零浪费。
The benefits of the scheme?
这项计划的好处是什么？
Environmentally, the scheme advances on the laws surrounding illegal waste dumping; one of China’s biggest causes of pollution. One of the goals is to eradicate landfill waste altogether, and thus illegal dumping. Therefore, a circular economy concept will remove the likelihood of illegal dumping of waste from occurring altogether.在环境方面，该计划是有关非法倾倒废弃物的法律的新进展，而非法倾倒废弃物中国最大的污染原因之一。其中一个目标是彻底根除垃圾填埋，从而杜绝非法倾倒。因此，循环经济的概念将彻底消除非法倾倒废物的可能性。
Additionally, the scheme will bring economic value too. Experts calculate the output value of recycling and reuse of solid waste in China to reach 7 trillion Yuan (or $1 trillion USD) by 2030. This in turn, generates the social and economic benefits of 40 million jobs for citizens nationally. 此外，该计划还将带来经济价值。专家计算，到2030年，中国固体废物回收再利用产值将达到7万亿元人民币(合1万亿美元)。这进而带来了社会和经济效益，为全国公民创造了4000万个就业机会。
What do you think? 你的想法是什么呢？
Do you think a governmental, national scheme is needed to engage people and cities to become waste aware, and motivated towards a zero waste lifestyle? Let us know what your thoughts about the scheme are! 你认为需要一个政府的、全国性的计划来让人们和城市意识到垃圾的存在，从而积极采取零浪费的生活方式吗？告诉我们你对这个计划的看法吧！