President Xi Jinping emphasized that "waste sorting is the new fashion" during his visit to the citizen station in Jiaxing Road Subdistrict of Hongkou District in November 2018.
On May 21 of last year, he sent a letter to the waste sorting volunteers in the subdistrict, recalling his visit five years earlier and acknowledging the achievements of Shanghai's waste sorting efforts. He expressed high hopes for waste sorting to become a new trend in low-carbon living.
On May 21 this year, marking the first anniversary of President Xi's letter, Hongkou held a themed event at the Hongkou Workers' Cultural Palace titled "Classify New Fashion, Practice Low Carbon Together."
In his speech, Hongkou Party Secretary Li Qian emphasized that waste sorting is a "critical small matter" that President Xi has consistently prioritized. He noted that Hongkou has steadfastly implemented waste sorting as a crucial public welfare project, enhancing fine management of comprehensive waste governance through collaborative efforts under the strong leadership of the municipal government and support from citizens.
Li Qian called for continued public participation in waste sorting to promote green development and improve the ecological environment. He encouraged everyone to join in making waste sorting a community habit and ecological responsibility.
During the event, the Shanghai Ecological Culture Association, the Catering Industry Association, the Express Delivery Industry Association, and the Urban Sanitation Industry Association jointly initiated a "Participate in Green Low-Carbon Living" proposal.
The event also launched several initiatives, including the introduction of waste sorting education bases and experience routes, the start of a special action to optimize waste sorting volunteer services in communities, and the release of a public service announcement on waste sorting.
According to the Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administration Bureau, in 2023, the compliance rate for waste sorting in residential areas and workplaces remained above 95 percent, with citizen satisfaction at 96.5 percent.
The amount of kitchen waste sorted accounted for 35 percent of the total waste, and the recycling rate of household waste reached 43 percent.
The city has significantly improved waste collection points and created several model communities like Ruihong Community Phase II, known for their excellent facilities and pleasant environments.
As the origin of President Xi's statement that "waste sorting is the new fashion," Hongkou has fully mobilized to improve the precision of its comprehensive waste management.
In 2023, the district reduced daily household waste generation by 35 percent from the time of the President's visit, while increasing daily wet waste and recyclable material generation by over 200 percent.
The district's waste sorting effectiveness ranked among the top two in the city, with all eight subdistricts recognized as demonstration areas for waste sorting, and Jiaxing Road Subdistrict striving to become a model area for low-carbon living.