No sorting means no clearing of trash

Garbage produced at residential complexes will not be collected and transported if property owners, neighborhood committees and property management offices fail to ensure that the trash is sorted properly.

Garbage collection and transportation companies will determine whether the garbage they handle has been sorted correctly. If not, they should inform those responsible to rectify the situation and sort the trash properly at the scene, according to an operation standard released by the Shanghai Greenery and Public Sanitation Bureau, which dovetails with the city's first domestic garbage regulations taking effect on July 1.

Substandard sorting refers to mixing of wet, dry, recyclable, hazardous, construction, industrial or medical trash, according to the bureau.

After the garbage is correctly sorted at the scene, it should be cleared by collection and transportation companies. If the errant complexes fail to rectify the situation immediately, they will be issued a notice asking them to do so within seven days.

After the grace period, garbage collection and transportation companies can refuse to collect and transport the trash if it is still unsorted, according to the bureau.

Garbage collection and transportation companies should also report the failure to government or subdistrict offices and the district's greenery and public sanitation authorities.

Residents in such complexes will be provided with guidance and education, and the cases will be handed over to the city's urban management and law enforcement authorities if they still fail to fall in line.

They will face fines after the case is handed over, according to the bureau.