Round Table China Are you ready to live a zero-waste life?
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Dec 5, 2025 In this discussion, Yu Shun, a policy and environment commentator, dives into China's ambitious zero-waste city initiative. He explains how urban waste systems can be redesigned to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Topics covered include the origins of the 2018 plan, the challenges in measuring progress, and innovative community engagement strategies like grassroots education on waste sorting. Yu also highlights the role of agriculture, especially straw utilization, and emphasizes the global importance of effective waste management amidst rising waste projections.
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Zero-Waste Is A Circular City Model
- Zero-waste cities aim to minimize and cyclically reuse materials rather than eliminate waste entirely.
- The concept reframes urban development as a circular system from source to reuse.
From Pilots To Nationwide Evaluation
- China piloted zero-waste programs starting in 2019 and expanded to a national evaluation of 109 cities by 2025.
- The initiative progressed from pilots to broad rollout with measurable assessments.
Waste Comes In Three Big Streams
- Solid waste includes household, construction, and industrial streams, each posing distinct challenges.
- Achieving zero-waste requires tackling all streams, not just household plastics.