Based on the knowledge of national conditions, this paper analyzes the reasons why it is difficult to classify garbage in Guangzhou.

In the mid-1990s, many cities in China began to advocate garbage sorting, collection and disposal. However, at present, the garbage sorting work in these cities is difficult and falls into a situation of name only. "Although many cities have garbage sorting boxes, it is only convenient to pick up garbage on the street, which is far from the real garbage sorting."

Experts pointed out that the classified collection and treatment of garbage will surely become the general trend of urban garbage disposal in China in the future, which is also the inevitable requirement of circular economy and sustainable development: "The problem of garbage disposal in urban development needs to be considered from the perspective of the government as a whole. Garbage sorting requires not only the participation of the whole people, but also the policy guidance of the government. "

The once highly respected garbage sorting work is now facing an unsustainable embarrassment.

At the beginning of April, the local media learned from Guangzhou Environmental Sanitation Bureau that the classified garbage bins, which are 50% more expensive than single-barrel garbage bins, will not be put into use until the new planning scheme is introduced. In the next few years, garbage bins will return to the unclassified "single bucket era".

It's not just Guangzhou that is confused. Almost all cities that advocate garbage sorting in China are caught in the dilemma that "propaganda significance" is greater than "actual effect".

Is garbage sorting feasible? What makes a "small box" originally environmentally friendly so ill-fated?

It is difficult to sort garbage.

Garbage is called misplaced resources. According to conservative estimates, the value of recyclable garbage discarded in Chinese cities every year is about 25 billion yuan. Classified collection can not only greatly reduce the pollution of garbage to the environment, save the cost of harmless treatment of garbage, but also reuse valuable natural resources.

It is against this background that in the mid-1990s, more and more cities in China began to advocate garbage sorting, collection and disposal.

"But unfortunately, at present, almost all urban waste sorting work is' propaganda significance' greater than' actual effect'." A scholar engaged in the study of garbage classification pointed out that the garbage classification in many cities in China has been struggling from publicity and advocacy to little effect, and then to the voluntary abandonment of individual cities, and has fallen into a situation of name only.

During this year's two local conferences in Beijing, a proposal jointly put forward by 99 Beijing Municipal People's Congress deputies in Chaoyang District attracted media attention.

The core of the motion is to call on the relevant government departments to introduce feasible policies that pay equal attention to incentives and constraints as soon as possible, and to implement garbage sorting from the source, that is, the family, in order to reduce the environmental damage caused by mixed loading, transportation and treatment of garbage and the waste of recyclable resources.

In fact, Beijing was one of the first cities to put forward the concept of "garbage classification". 1996 65438+February 15, residents in Dacheng Lane, Xicheng District, Beijing started garbage sorting with the help of the NGO Global Village. This was once called an "ice-breaking" move of China garbage sorting by the media, which even described it as a "small fire" of folk garbage sorting, and the actions of residents in Mahayana Lane ignited the enthusiasm of many citizens for environmental protection.

However, after more than ten years, garbage sorting has become a hot topic in Beijing, an international metropolis.

The data shows that the annual growth rate of domestic waste in Beijing is 8%. By 2008, the daily domestic garbage will be 6.5438+0.84 million tons, with an annual output of 6.72 million tons. Correspondingly, at present, there are 23 garbage treatment facilities in Beijing * * *, with a daily treatment capacity exceeding 1 10,000 tons. The proportions of landfill, composting and incineration are 90%, 8% and 2% respectively.

"Harmless landfill accounts for more than 90%, which is too high. It not only wastes hundreds of acres of valuable land, but also wastes resources by landfill with garbage with calorific value." Experts say that it is precisely because of the lack of effective classification that a large amount of garbage can only be disposed of in a harmless landfill, rather than recycled.

It's a waste of time to throw and mix.

Recently, a survey conducted by Life Times and Sina Health Channel showed that among 3,435 respondents, 89.4% of the residential quarters where the respondents lived had a garbage sorting system, but only 38.6% of the households sorted the garbage.

However, in the eyes of more people, garbage sorting is difficult. Of course, there is a public perception problem, but the real resistance is not here.

Mr. Dong is a resident of a large community in northern Beijing. On the two trash cans downstairs of his house, the words "recyclable" and "kitchen waste" are written respectively. Mr. Dong, who has always been enthusiastic about environmental protection, is also very concerned. He tries to put the garbage in different buckets according to the tips.

But one day, Mr. Dong accidentally discovered that the sanitation workers who came to transport garbage every morning dumped all the garbage in two barrels into a garbage truck. Mr. Dong is puzzled: "My garbage is classified at home, but the workers mix it when loading the car. What's the difference between this and not sorting? "

During the interview, many citizens also said that although they know something about garbage sorting and collection, they are willing to cooperate with this work, but the problem that bothers them is: how to sort garbage?

Taking Beijing as an example, the classification of garbage can be described as varied. In the residential area where Mr. Dong lives, garbage is divided into "recyclable" and "kitchen garbage". In some public places, garbage can be classified into recyclable and non-recyclable or harmful waste.

Mr. Dong held up a plastic bag containing food and said, "In fact, I never understood what kind of plastic bag this should belong to?"

Bao Lunjun, director of the Environmental Sanitation Department of Guangzhou Environmental Sanitation Bureau, told the local media that in addition to insufficient publicity, it is also a big problem that the follow-up work cannot keep up.

He explained that if the real classification is to be realized, different vehicles should be deployed to transport different garbage after classification. When it comes to treatment, Guangzhou has neither built special equipment for the treatment of kitchen waste, farmer's market waste and used batteries, nor established a large-scale sorting center. Therefore, the sorted garbage was finally mixed and transported away, which did not achieve the expected effect.

At present, Guangzhou only relies on "scavengers" to classify and classify garbage. It is estimated that at present, about 1000 tons to 2,000 tons of useful garbage are classified and recycled.

In this regard, experts pointed out that the failure to establish a complete garbage sorting and recycling system is an important reason why many cities have implemented garbage sorting and recycling for many years but have achieved little results. "So, although many cities have garbage sorting boxes, it is only convenient to pick up garbage on the street, which is far from the real garbage sorting."

No matter how hard it is.

Despite the difficulties, experts have repeatedly pointed out that the classified collection and treatment of garbage will surely become the general trend of urban garbage disposal in China in the future, which is also the inevitable requirement of circular economy and sustainable development: "The garbage disposal problem in urban development needs to be considered from the perspective of the government. Garbage sorting requires not only the participation of the whole people, but also the policy guidance of the government. "

Guangzhou Environmental Sanitation Bureau made it clear when suspending the placement of classified garbage bins that this does not mean that the garbage sorting work will no longer be carried out, but only to find a more practical and reasonable way of garbage sorting collection and treatment. "Establishing a perfect garbage collection system and strict system as soon as possible is an effective way to implement garbage classified collection, then the garbage classified collection we advocate can truly reflect its value in environmental protection." The person in charge of the relevant department in Guangzhou said.

Beijing also said that it will gradually establish and improve the whole process of garbage reduction and resource reuse system for garbage classification, collection, transportation and treatment, which will first "lay off employees" for classified garbage bins.

It is reported that the garbage classification after "layoffs" will follow the principle of "broad classification and local conditions" and adopt different garbage classification methods in combination with the characteristics of garbage production in different regions. Starting from this year, garbage bins in residential areas will be divided into: recyclables, kitchen waste and other garbage; The garbage bins set up by the unit will be divided into: recyclables, kitchen waste and other garbage; Trash bins in public places are only divided into recyclables and other garbage. After "layoffs", the classification of garbage bins will be more instructive and improve the efficiency of garbage classification.

"No matter how hard it is." In the interview, more people expressed the view that although the "propaganda significance" of garbage classification is greater than the "actual effect", even the "propaganda significance" is not a waste. "If we give up garbage sorting, it will give people a strong signal that garbage sorting is not feasible, then our previous efforts will really be in vain. On the other hand, we will continue this work, and when we have funds and equipment, we can sort the garbage at the source, and everything will come naturally. ! "