China defines a "zero-waste city" not as one that produces no waste, but as an urban model that minimizes landfill through green production and lifestyles, source‑level reduction and resource recovery – driving solid‑waste impacts as low as possible.

Over years of pilot programs, these principles have translated into higher recycling rates, lower household waste volumes and more livable urban environments.

Under the 14th Five‑Year Plan (2021-2025), China has designated 113 prefecture‑level cities and eight special regions to advance zero‑waste construction. More than 3,700 demonstration projects – ranging from community sorting systems to industrial by‑product recovery facilities – are underway, with total investment surpassing 1 trillion yuan (about $140 billion).

These efforts underscore a nationwide commitment to mainstreaming zero‑waste practices.

North China's Xiong'an New Area illustrates next‑generation planning. Conceived as a "city of cells," each neighborhood embeds closed‑loop "waste cells."

Construction debris is processed on‑site into aggregate for new buildings; smart bins and digital incentives guide residents to sort recyclables; and district recycling hubs transform scrap metal and plastics back into manufacturing feedstock.

This cellular approach turns waste into a continuous resource stream, aligning urban growth with environmental stewardship.

By contrast, Chongqing focuses on systemwide integration. The municipality has overhauled district‑wide sorting infrastructure and built standardized community resource‑recovery centers.

Organic waste is routed to composting facilities neighboring urban farms, while residuals feed modern waste‑to‑energy plants that power local grids. Repair‑oriented business models – repair cafés and upcycling workshops – further divert durable goods from landfills, showcasing how a zero‑waste ethos can permeate daily life.

Shenzhen pushes the innovation frontier with "scientific romance." Pilot labs explore algae‑based bioplastics spun from food‑scrap fermentation and robotic e‑waste dismantling systems that recover rare metals. Each experiment is treated as a creative endeavor – inviting startups and universities to iterate, share data and refine processes. Shenzhen's culture of trial and error exemplifies how zero‑waste cities can evolve through open‑ended innovation.

As China scales from pilots to widespread adoption, these flagship cases offer blueprints for urban transformation.

By embedding zero‑waste design into policy, planning and community action, China is charting a green future – where every discard is seen as a resource, fostering cities that grow in harmony with their environment.

(Cover: Taihu Tuying Wetland Park in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, east China, July 5, 2025. /VCG)