BEIJING: At a collection center for discarded flowers and tangerines in a residential community in the Dongshan subdistrict of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, sanitation workers have been busy separating branches, soil, pots and tangerines after the Spring Festival holiday.
After being separated, the tangerines were delivered to a local waste sorting and education center, where they were washed and mixed with red sugar, water and other materials in sealed containers to produce environmentally friendly enzymes.
After the Spring Festival holiday, which ended on Feb 17 this year, Guangzhou residents usually throw away the flowers and tangerines used to decorate their homes in celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year. Using discarded tangerines to produce enzymes has become an effective way to reduce garbage after the holiday, according to Li Song, deputy director of the subdistrict.
“We can produce approximately 40 barrels of enzymes each year in the subdistrict,” Li said, adding that they have made enzymes out of discarded tangerines for eight years. “Temporary collection points for discarded flowers and tangerines have been set up,” she said. The enzymes can be used for household cleaning and watering plants, effectively turning waste into treasure, Li said.
The recycling idea has been promoted across all 18 subdistricts in Dongshan district, according to the district urban management authorities. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
