Students from Hangzhou Phoenix Primary School learn garbage sorting in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on July 30. [Photo/IC]

Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, will follow the example set by Beijing and Shanghai on waste sorting, as a newly revised regulation on garbage classification was approved by local authorities on Aug 1.

Unlike Shanghai's garbage classification system, which requires residents to separate dry refuse, wet trash, recyclable waste and hazardous waste, Hangzhou plans to classify residential garbage into recyclable waste, hazardous waste, perishable waste and others.

Individuals and companies who fail to sort garbage may be fined up to 200 yuan ($29) and 5,000 yuan, respectively.

To raise awareness of garbage classification, the regulation also introduces a credit penalty. Those who violate the regulations will have the violation recorded in their personal credit history.

Reports say that Hangzhou produces nearly 12,000 metric tons of domestic waste every day, enough to fill West Lake in three years.

The Hangzhou urban management bureau said that a series of handbooks on how to sort household garbage will be issued to help residents better understand the regulations.