Shanghai began exploring garbage classification methods as early as the mid-1990s and was among the first cities in China to pilot a national garbage classification project.

The city has since worked out a series of measures to reduce household garbage, such as promoting the construction of waste recycling facilities.

In order to encourage more residents to efficiently sort their garbage, the city will extend incentives to more selected areas in which residents will receive points for classifying their waste. Points can be exchanged for gifts.

According to a survey of 2,000 respondents by the Shanghai Statistics Bureau released in December, 98.9 percent said they are willing to sort their garbage. A majority of respondents said the city should accelerate its garbage sorting program.

But the survey also found that there are still many residents who are unable to sort their waste correctly. With more than 23 million residents living and working in the city, officials admitted it would take some time for the city to promote the new measures.

Feng Maolun, deputy director of the proposals committee with the Shanghai committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, suggested that the government should educate the public on its garbage-sorting program.

Many residents have thus far failed to recognize what types of garbage belong in what waste bin, although they are aware that they have to sort their garbage, Feng said.

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