| As one of the many consequences of urbanization,population growth and massive industrialization,the impressive increase in waste production in the last decades has turned China into the world's top waste generator,after the United States.As part of the broader environmental challenge the country is currently facing,the implementation of sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management(MSWM)practices in Chinese major cities should be a primary concern for the government and public administration.Such practices-already implemented in other Asian capitals and Western countries-include integrated and holistic views of the MSW system,and a hierarchical approach which prioritizes resources-reuse and recycling over incineration and landfilling.Shanghai is currently the Chinese metropolis implementing the most successful practices of MSWM;despite being praised for the systems implemented,Shanghai is also facing multiple challenges,still heavily relies on landfilling and incineration and lacks of a properly regulated recycling program.Based on field and literature research,this study carefully analyzes the MSW system currently in place,and identifies(i)better direct financial investment(ii)regulate informal collectors(iii)clarify responsibilities of stakeholders(iv)exchange advanced technologies and know-how with international players,as necessary steps to enhance the recycling systems in the city.Moreover,based on a questionnaire survey distributed on social medias,it has been found that the level of education achieved and the existing promotion activities on recycling do not affect Shanghai citizens' willingness to participate in recycling programs.But,a statistically significant relationship has been found between both(i)the communities' efforts to promote such programs and(ii)the appearance of public spaces with the commuters' satisfaction with the overall MSWM system. |
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