Volunteers return to sort trash
Garbage-sorting volunteer Huang Jianming (left) monitors garbage disposal at the Xiaodongmen Subdistrict.
Huang Jianming on duty at a disposal spot in the Xiaodongmen Subdistrict.
A garbage-sorting volunteer and a sanitation worker keep facilities at the Xiaodongmen Subdistrict clean.
The Xiaodongmen Subdistrict in Huangpu District is a typical Laochengxiang, or Old Town, and volunteers are sweating under the scorching sun to help residents awaiting relocation to dispose of their garbage correctly.
"Relocation has created a big challenge for our garbage-sorting promotion," said Zhou Cheng, Party secretary of the subdistrict.
With the construction of the south Bund financial cluster, households are being relocated from the area.
There are more than 400 garbage-sorting volunteers in Xiaodongmen, and they have been busy getting residents involved in waste sorting during the transition period before relocation.
Huang Jianming, a 75-year-old who was born in the area, is a volunteer at the Duojia residential community.
He relocated to Changqiao in Xuhui District last year, but returns to the residential community every day as a volunteer.
A temporary site for households yet to leave the two longtang (alleys) on Youche Matou Street and Fengji Matou Lane was set up in April.
Huang takes a 90-minute trip on two buses to the community to be on duty from 7am to 9am and 7pm to 9pm.
"I leave home at 5:30am and arrive home at 10:30pm every day due to the volunteer work," said Huang. "I had lived here for 75 years, and have deep bond with the area."
When fixed spot and fixed time garbage disposal began at the residential community in April, Huang said many people, particularly the elderly, were putting all their garbage in plastic bags without sorting it first.
"In such a situation, I did the sorting for them and they felt sorry after some time," said Huang. "I smile all the time even if some people are in a bad temper or are not patient.
"Those who were not willing to sort garbage were moved by my practice after some time and they started getting involved," said Huang. "All in all, we were old neighbors."
Huang has been a volunteer at the complex since 2008, picking up cigarette butts, helping with the census, and urging residents to follow the rules when crossing the street.
Despite many residents having moved out, six volunteers still return to the place where they were born every day.
After all the residents in the Duojia residential community moved out early this month, Huang became a volunteer at the Pujiang Apartment, a highrise residential building in the area with 122 households.
"Our senior volunteers were born here and they have a deep bond with the area," Zhou said. "They play an encouraging and important role in waste sorting."
A total of 4,000 households in the subdistrict are being relocated this year.
"I have a strong Laochengxiang complex although I have moved out, and I hope the place can get better," said Zhu Heliang, a 67-year-old volunteer.
There are also younger volunteers.
Zha Junchao, 31, has been a volunteer in the area for nearly two years.
"Because of relocation, some residents dumped big pieces of garbage out, and we persuaded them to take the trash home for the collection time of big trash," he said.
"Garbage sorting is a long-time work, and young people should also contribute out power," said Zha.
In addition to learn from the volunteers, residents were invited to visit household garbage transfer stations and treatment facilities, which helped raise their awareness on garbage sorting, Zhou said.
Lectures and interactive games are held, and a green account scheme under which points acquired by dumping garbage in the right bins can be redeemed for daily necessities is used to spur residents' enthusiasm.
Two children assist in garbage sorting at the Shihua Jiayuan residential complex in Yanghang Town.
A neighborhood committee worker checks garbage sorting at the Shihua Jiayuan residential complex in Yanghang Town.
In the corridors and elevators of the Shihua Jiayuan residential complex, there are graphics on how to dump garbage correctly.
The Shihua Jiayuan residential complex in Yanghang Town in Baoshan District has more than 500 households. It has difficulties in promoting trash sorting as about 100 households are tenants.
"In addition, young office workers and domestic helpers also present obstacles because they are busy or are not aware of waste sorting," said Yan Xiuqin, Party secretary of the Meilin neighborhood committee.
At the corridors and elevators of the complex, graphics teaching how to correctly dump garbage are posted.
The committee has also signed letter of commitment with property rental platforms, which should ensure tenants sort their trash properly.
Tenants failing to do so could lose their deposits.
The committee has also established a team of more than 20 children volunteers who assist in residents' waste sorting.
