Guiyang strives to become a zero-waste city

At the Guiyang InCity Shopping Mall in Yunyan district, Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, public service advertisements for zero-waste cities are being played, and signs calling for saving resources and protecting the environment have been set up in all corners of the mall.

A zero-waste city does not mean a city where waste is not produced or treated. Rather, it refers to the effective utilization of solid waste, reducing its production, disposing of accumulated solid waste, and ensuring a circular economy.

"We currently have around 160 merchants in our shopping mall, including approximately 50 food service businesses. As the mall generates a significant amount of food waste daily, we have professional waste management companies to ensure it is all collected properly. We also advocate for merchants to use electronic invoices instead of paper versions, encourage the use of biodegradable tableware, and promote QR code ordering," said Chen Shan, a staff member in charge of the shopping mall.

"We conduct regular inspections of the stores in the mall and score the merchants. If their scores are below 80 points, they will be subject to corresponding penalties according to the regulations," added Chen.

Since the beginning of this year, Guiyang has been promoting the concept of a "zero-waste city" through various activities in manufacturing, agriculture, and construction, to guide the public and enterprises to actively adopt green production and lifestyle practices.

Currently, Guiyang has selected 12 business complexes as zero-waste shopping malls.