Editor's note: In 2019, China has adopted a variety of policies in many fields, bringing great changes to people's lives. Let's review those major life-changing policies of the past year.

Kindergarten students learn to sort waste into four categories in a game in Rugao, Jiangsu province, earlier in June. XU HUI/FOR CHINA DAILY

1. Garbage sorting rules

How to correctly separate and throw household garbage into dustbins has become a hot topic of discussion, thanks to the garbage classification standards that went into effect.

In 2019, 237 cities at the prefecture level and above have started garbage classification in accordance with a national policy. Shanghai became the first city to enforce its strictest garbage regulation on July 1.

On Nov 15, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued unified standard signs for domestic waste classification across the country.