China's War on Waste: Shanghai gives warnings to garbage violators

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Although Shanghai is serious about its war on waste, city authorities say they're willing to allow a grace period before handing out fines. Once again, here's Xu Mengqi.

"This is not supposed to be in the bin for recyclables."

At the backdoor of a Shanghai hotel, an inspection signals that the city is serious about having its trash properly sorted.

"What kind of trash is this bin for? It's not properly labeled."

The hotel is only one of many sites that Shanghai's urban management officials are inspecting Monday, with the city's new garbage sorting regulations now in effect.

Despite the violation, hotel staff just got a warning.

HE YUJUN SHANGHAI CITY MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION EXECUTION BUREAU "The main problem is still mixed disposal. Actually, we do not enforce fines for the sake of fining, we want to educate and guide businesses to fulfill the requirements by giving them rectification notices first."

According to the new rules, businesses that fail to properly separate their trash face fines of up to 7,000 USD.

But enforcement officers say the fines are only applicable to those who become repeat violators and refuse to correct their behavior. XMQ, CGTN, SH.