The Jingling recycling bus. [Photo/WeChat account: hzhbwx]

Hangzhou's innovative approach to solid waste management has earned international acclaim, with the Jingling Recycling Bus project in Xihu district selected as a flagship case for global promotion.

The initiative was recently included in the 2025 list of exemplary "Zero Waste City" cases released by the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific.

The Jingling Recycling Bus represents a pioneering solution for the recycling of low-value, contaminated recyclables such as milk cartons and takeaway beverage cups.

As Zhejiang province's first dedicated collection and transportation system for these materials, the project establishes a comprehensive circular model integrating precise front-end sorting, intelligent mid-stage logistics and patented end-stage resource recovery technologies.

This approach effectively addresses the longstanding challenge of recycling items that are often neglected due to their low economic value and complex disposal requirements.

Since its launch, the program has been implemented at 465 collection points across Xihu district, covering more than 80 percent of beverage retailers.

It has processed over 3,440 tons of contaminated paper-plastic packaging — equivalent to about 172 million milk cartons — producing more than 3,000 tons of recycled materials and reducing carbon emissions by over 3,500 tons.

The free recycling service has also saved businesses more than 17 million yuan ($2.5 million) in disposal costs.

Supporting public engagement, three educational facilities linked to the project have attracted over 10,000 residents and 1,600 students.

Students in Xihu district engage in environmental protection activities. [Photo/WeChat account: hzhbwx]