[File photo/IC]

Xiamen in Fujian province has taken multiple efforts recently to improve garbage sorting, including launching the pilot operation of a new garbage compressing and transfer station in August.

The new Houkeng waste compression transfer station, which replaces the previous one that ran for almost 20 years, has started its pilot run in recent days, and it is capable of compressing 1,200 metric tons every day, according to a report by Xiamen Evening News, a local newspaper.

The first phase of construction on the station has finished, and the following phase is expected to start by the end of August. Once complete, the city will be able to increase its total capacity for compressing and transferring garbage to 4,000 metric tons per day, it said.

The station usually collects the garbage from the city, and then compresses it into large bulk portions that get transferred out of the city for further processing, which has been an important link in garbage processing, it added.

Xiamen has always been recognized in the country as a pilot city for garbage sorting and processing. In the quarterly rankings, released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Xiamen has ranked at the top in the recent four consecutive quarters.

In addition, the city has launched a smartphone application, which could allow users to track the garbage transferring process. This app has included the routes and information of every station involved in the direct transportation of garbage, and it provides just-in-time information for staff so that they can take garbage to the stations in proper time.

Lu Fang, a Xiamen resident, said that she fully supports environmental protection and garbage sorting, and hopes more measures would be implemented to help residents sort their waste.