Recycling gathers at a much faster pace
Updated: 2014-01-06 07:19
By Zhu Lixin (China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
With the process of modernization and industrial development, migrants have flooded into the Hefei Economic Technological Development Area.
The increasing size of the population and the improvement of living standards have inevitably resulted in the creation of more rubbish and waste.
"We were local farmers before this place was turned into a development zone 20 years ago," says Wei Pingying, a 70-year-old grandmother from Haiheng, one of the development area's five major communities.
"At first, we didn't quite understand the importance of environmental protection, but now people in my neighborhood have started to try to do something good for our environment."
Wei's new awareness has been influenced by the efforts of local college students and community workers.
Five years ago, students of Hefei University, also based in the development area, organized a group named Environmental Protection Union. They regularly organize campaigns on campus or in the local communities, such as "One Hour for Earth" and "Recycle Your Life".
"We go to communities and distribute free garbage bins to the residents every now and then," says Du Long, the president of the union. "We call on them to sort out their domestic waste for recycling and have received overwhelming support, which makes us more confident about the job we're doing."
The university gives them funds to cover part of their expenses, such as the purchase of garbage bins, to help form a sense of social responsibility in the student population, while the rest of the money required is collected for waste-recycling on campus.
They also often organize competitions in making handicrafts from waste material.
"I have to say the participants have such good imagination that they can make marvelous things with waste bottles, paper or even bricks," says Du.
Granny Wei is one of the residents who participated in the "Recycle Your Life" activity. She has been collecting plastic bottles and paper from around the community and on the streets since then. She also asks her senior friends and children to join her in the work.
"We give the collected bottles and paper to the students as a donation for the work in the future, in exchange for a potted plant as a symbol of recognition for our work," she says.
Community workers also play a vital role in environmental protection.
Related Stories
A waste reduction, recycling strategy 2013-12-18 08:09
Mining industry and resource recycling 2013-12-13 11:02
'Reverse' vending machine sells idea of recycling 2013-11-15 06:38
Cans recycled as art 2013-08-29 10:44
Recycling the answer to China's junk dilemma 2013-07-20 14:23
Today's Top News
Hong Kong media mogul Shaw dies at 107
Merkel fractures pelvis skiing, cancels visits
Portugal declares three-day mourning for Eusebio
Forbidden City to be closed every Monday
Icebreaker prepares for breakout
Beijing rejects Abe's call
Illegal ivory stash destroyed
Israeli ex-PM Sharon's condition in steady decline
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Growing food in space could assist in human colonization |
Holiday blues |
Keeping their motors running |
In memory of unnamed war heroes |
The new temples of a twilight age |
Hebei aims for pollution fight |