Discussion on the successful implementation of sustainable strategies
Since 2015, Hangzhou has had a specific regulation for domestic waste (Department of Hangzhou Law Administration 2015). This regulation details the scope of household waste, classification standards, collection and transportation methods, disposal options, controls, and penalties. However, based on my observations from 2017 to 2021, Hangzhou's performance on waste classification and recycling during this period could have been better. This was mainly reflected in residents' failure to classify waste. Most residents in Hangzhou needed a detailed understanding of the criteria for rubbish classification previously, thus requiring time and effort to organise waste before they could throw it away. In this case, some individuals will simply drop off their trash without classifying it to save time. Although there are penalties in the rules for this, only a few people were punished due to the lack of monitoring capacity.
To maintain the policy of waste classification, the government may provide incentives for classifying waste or divide waste after collection. However, these measures may not perform well. Incentives for rubbish separation are usually offered as credits that can be converted into rewards, which may not be worthwhile for most individuals or sufficient to offset the effort required in waste classification; separating rubbish after collecting is inefficient and increases high labour costs.
Therefore, the first step is to raise awareness and educate the public on the importance and knowledge of waste classification. New policies and regulations can only be implemented effectively and without opposition when the public is informed and equipped with the appropriate skills. This measure is also helpful for the implementation of other sustainable strategies. When implementing measures such as installing solar photovoltaic panels and enforcing the use of paper straws, informing the public in advance allows governments and planners to realise the potential obstacles and reduce scepticism. Moreover, the ability to regulate needs to be improved. Otherwise, individuals may act differently than expected. In conclusion, the implementation of sustainable strategies demands management capacity from governments. The ability to provide the public with the appropriate information and ensure that both individuals and sectors are acting as expected will be key to achieving successful sustainable initiatives.
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