Recycling Part 1

China simultaneously baffles and astounds in the realm of recycling. The ability of Chinese to reclaim and reuse resources routinely colors day to day life. It is this culture of recycling that is at the root much of the culture shock for westerners. Recycling quietly flows as an undercurrent in china and expands beyond the classic use referring to glass, plastic, and paper to include food, materials, and even ideas.



With that said, this week, we kick off what will be a recurring segment on Hacking Asia -> Recycling!

The best way to begin consumption of the subject is by addressing classic use of the term. Recycling arguably represents all three of the classic R's (reduction, reuse, and recycling). For some resources (plastic and paper) this process is relatively efficient. Observant visitors will notice the proliferation of recycling bins around major cities in China. Theoretically, people would discard their empty plastic bottles in these receptacles. However, this rarely happens, more often the bottles are thrown into the nearest trash bin (or gutter).

While this may sound problematic, there is actually an interesting existing solution in China. Due to payments for returning bottles (much like in the U.S.), you will often see people that need money collecting the bottles; not only those littered about but also the ones placed in the recycling receptacles. If anyone is actually paid to empty recycling containers, I would be greatly surprised if they did anything more than dumping the  contents of the recycling container into the trash. I have wandered out of my building many times in the morning to the site of an old man digging through the trash for discarded bottles.

Students also  retain and save bottles for extra money. Once every two weeks, there will be opportunities to sell their bottles to workers with small trucks who act as middle men. Students will be paid several kuai for their efforts. The process is quite a site. One element this photo fails to capture is the group effort by the roommates to carry the large bag of bottles as well as the bargaining with the truck man. I have heard this sort of opportunity is also available for glass bottles but I have never seen it.

One reason I typically ask for cups with my bottles of beer is the known reuse of the bottles. Reuse extends beyond the real companies to fake off-brands as well. For example, a popular beer in China is Laoshan. This beer has a blue label. However, as you will note in the picture, there are also bottles of "Laoshan" with pink labels. The pink labeled beer is cheaper but also a fake. Further, even though most Chinese beer tends to be rather similar, I can assure you that the pennies you are saving also come with a great reduction in flavor quality.

The bottles are reused so many times, it is not entirely uncommon to see some rust or corrosion along the lip of the bottle. This is the reason I tend to ask for cups along with my beer.  Regarding pricing, I have heard that you get more money for returning glass bottles than plastic bottles which is consistent with their increased production cost.

Next week-> Recycling Part 2: Oil, Paper, and Ideas