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Article

The Practical Experience of “Zero Waste City” Construction in Foshan City Condenses the Chinese Solution to the Sustainable Development Goals

by
Tianyu Qin
1,2,
Lingling She
3,
Zhaolong Wang
3,
Luosong Chen
4,
Wanyi Xu
5,
Gaoming Jiang
1,2,* and
Zhe Zhang
3,*
1
State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
2
College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3
Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100029, China
4
Foshan Solid Waste Pollution Control Center, Foshan 528000, China
5
Zhonghuanlian (Guangzhou) Environmental Protection Co., Ltd., Foshan 528000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12118; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912118
Submission received: 29 August 2022 / Revised: 17 September 2022 / Accepted: 19 September 2022 / Published: 25 September 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Environmentally Friendly Management and Treatment of Solid Waste to Approach Zero Waste City)
Browse Figure
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
“Zero Waste City” (ZWC) is an urban development model that minimizes the environmental impact of solid waste at the city level and is a specific practice of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper aims to summarize the key points for realizing the construction of ZWC and the SDGs and make suggestions for promoting the construction of ZWC and forming a Chinese solution for the SDGs. It takes Foshan City, one of the second batch of ZWC pilot projects, as a case study, analyzes the relationship between the construction of ZWC and sustainable urban development from the relevance of the ZWC index system in Foshan City and the SDGs, and analyzes the foundation and problems of its ZWC construction in adjusting the industrial structure and improving the protection system. We find that the concept of the ZWC index system in Foshan City and the SDGs are consistent in the objectives of solid waste, resource utilization, management, sustainability, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. The construction of ZWC in Foshan City is built through two intertwined paths by (1) adjusting the industrial structure of solid waste generation areas such as industrial waste, domestic waste, agricultural solid waste, and hazardous waste and promoting the refinement of the whole industrial chain in these fields and (2) improving the institutional, technical, market, regulatory and other protection systems in the solid waste generation fields. This paper condenses the construction of ZWC in Foshan as a Chinese solution for SDGs, providing a practical example of sustainable transformation for other manufacturing cities, with implications for both China and other manufacturing-oriented cities.

1. Introduction

In 2015, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to synergistically advance social, economic, and environmental convergence towards a sustainable development path from the perspective of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within 15 years, with the support of member states [1,2]. Each country, combined with its local realities, is making efforts to meet the challenges of climate change and the environment and to achieve sustainable development. The European Commission has made a resolution to publish the highest programmatic document European Green Deal from the perspective of green development to cope with climate and environmental challenges. The document has proposed eight types of actions such as those based on climate, energy, agriculture, and industry, and striving to be the first climate-neutral continent [3]. The experiences of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group illustrate how urban areas can take action and make differences such as those in Boston, New York, and Sydney [4]. China is one of the first countries to emphasize the importance of the ecological environment, advocate the harmonious coexistence of human beings and nature, and call for the joint promotion of ecological and environmental governance. China was the first developing country to build Zero Waste City (ZWC) [5]. It fully demonstrates China’s great power’s commitment to global environmental governance and ecological civilization construction and expands the content of the world’s strategic thinking on sustainable development [6].
Presently, China is in a period of rapid economic and social development, and solid waste generation has increased year by year. To improve the effect of China’s solid waste pollution prevention, meet the growing needs of the people for a beautiful ecological environment, shape green development and lifestyle, and build a sustainable urban development model, China issued the work plan of the “Zero Waste City” Pilot Program in China [7]. It was led by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), with the participation of 18 ministries and commissions and the joint participation of the governments of the pilot areas in the implementation. The Work Plan was aimed to coordinate the advanced urban management concept of solid waste management in economic and social development, explored the establishment of a quantitative index system, summarize the specific actions to form a replicable pilot experience, proposed solutions to realize the modernization of the harmonious coexistence of human and nature, and put forward Chinese solutions and Chinese wisdom for building a beautiful earth home [8]. Subsequently, MEE screened and determined the first batch of the “11 + 5” pilot city list, issued the ZWC Pilot Implementation Plan Preparation Guide and ZWC Construction Index System, and fully launched the ZWC construction. Based on the current situation and the future of the city, the ZWC Pilot Implementation Plan Preparation Guide proposes the general objectives, milestones, and specific indicators for the construction of ZWC from the perspectives of promoting the transformation and upgrading of urban industries, improving infrastructure and promoting organic integration between urban and rural areas. The ZWC Construction Index System in China is designed to achieve the ZWC construction and improve the solid waste statistics system. It is designed in five aspects: source reduction of solid waste, resource utilization, final disposal, support capacity, and masses’ sense of acquisition based on the Chinese situation. In 2020, the first batch of pilot construction work made positive progress, and the summary evaluation work was completed in 2021. At the same time, in 2020, the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste” was amended and came into force, and solid waste was divided into industrial solid waste, domestic waste, construction waste, agricultural solid waste, and hazardous waste. In 2022, the MEE selected and published the list of ZWC for the 14th Five-Year Plan period and further promoted the construction of ZWC in China, and Foshan is one of the selected cities [9,10,11].

2. Materials and Methods

The analytical framework of this paper is shown in Figure 1. (1) Collect information (papers, reports, policy papers, statistics, bulletins, etc.) on the concept of ZWC and SDGs, and we found that the common goal of those is to control solid waste pollution and build a sustainable urban development model; (2) Study and analyze the correlation between the ZWC construction index system in Foshan City and the SDGs by textual analysis (Supplementary materials). The ZWC index system in Foshan City is based on the ZWC index system in China and combined with the actual local situation. The 17 SDGs and 169 targets are the key points in Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; (3) Summary of the pathway of the construction of ZWC in Foshan City and propose recommendations for the sustainable development in different fields; (4) Condense the experience of construction of ZWC in Foshan City as a Chinese solution for the SDGs.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Foshan ZWC Construction

Foshan has been participating in the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Solid Waste Regional Collaborative Disposal Model” led by the first pilot city of Shenzhen, and through the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement on solid waste collaborative disposal, it has been able to take advantage of local resources and complement the solid waste disposal capacity of Zhaoqing, Heyuan, Qingyuan, Shaoguan and Chaozhou to promote Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao since 2018. The agreement provides a reference for the construction of ZWC in Foshan City by sharing resources and joint prevention and treatment in the Greater Bay Area [12]. In 2019, to solve the urgent problems of small and micro waste-producing enterprises to collect and treat hazardous waste and to prevent environmental risks, Foshan City launched a pilot project on hazardous waste collection and storage. It provides practical experience for the integrated management mode of the whole process under the construction goal of ZWC [13]. In 2021, Guangdong Province released the “Guangdong Province to promote the ZWC construction pilot work program”, which was proposed to explore the construction of the Pearl River Delta zero waste pilot area [14]. Foshan City released the Outline of the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan and 2035 Vision for National Economic and Social Development of Foshan City, and clearly proposed exploring the establishment of a comprehensive management system, technical system, and index system for the construction of ZWC, building a ZWC service management platform, and vigorously promoting the pilot construction of ZWC. [15]. The Foshan Ecological Environment Bureau sorted out the basic situation of solid waste generation, using 2020 as the base year for the data.
As a typical manufacturing city, Foshan City has a gross regional product of 1081.6 billion yuan, ranking 14th in the country in terms of comprehensive economic competitiveness [16]. Table 1 shows that the production of solid waste and different types of solid waste enhance the environmental safety risks and high governance costs, limiting future economic development space [17]. Especially the higher generation of domestic waste ranks 10th in Chinese cities [18].
Under the Foshan Ecological Environment Bureau’s leadership, the pilot implementation plan for the construction of ZWC in Foshan City was finished and supported as the basis for the ZWC pilot work. In April 2022, Foshan City was selected as the second batch of the ZWC pilot city list, and based on the preliminary research work, Foshan City issued the ZWC pilot implementation plan and the index system quickly. The ZWC index system in Foshan City is based on the ZWC index system in China and combined with the current situation of Foshan’s economic and industrial development. It focuses on the main fields of industry, construction, agriculture, and domestic waste; researches the entire process of solid waste generation, utilization, disposal of refined management, and improves supporting systems; and sets up 58 indicators, including 25 mandatory, 26 optional and 7 characteristic indicators, to carry out a comprehensive Foshan ZWC construction work, required at the end of 2023 and the end of 2025 to meet the provincial and national construction goals [19].

3.2. Consistency of Foshan ZWC Index System with SDGs

The relevance of the index system of ZWC in Foshan City and the SDGs was analyzed by textual analysis. They are based on the three main processes of solid waste generation, utilization, and disposal, emphasizing the ability of the solid waste institutional, technical, market, and regulatory system, and reflecting the satisfaction of the public that the construction of ZWC is ultimately based on improving the living environment [20]. All these indicators promote sustainable urban development in different dimensions and are highly consistent with the SDGs. There are 17 Level 2 indicators based on the type of Level 1 indicators, and 58 Level 3 indicators in the “mandatory, optional, and special” mode. This paper analyzes the relevance of the Level 1 and 3 indicators to the 169 targets under 17 SDGs and summarizes the specific targets back to the 17 SDGs, and the achievement of one ZWC indicator can reflect one or more SDGs (Table 2). The Level 3 index system of ZWC covers 62 targets and includes all 17 SDGs. Especially 17.17 Encourage effective partnerships are mentioned 44 times, 12.4 Responsible management of chemicals and waste are mentioned 35 times, 11.3 Inclusive and sustainable urbanization are mentioned 19 times, 9.4 Upgrade all industries and infrastructures for sustainability are mentioned 16 times (Supplementary materials). These high-frequency occurrences fully reflect the alignment of the ZWC goals and the SDGs in the concepts of solid waste, resource utilization, management, sustainability, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. However, for indicator 58, public satisfaction with the effectiveness of ZWC construction does not match the SDGs, indicating that there is some difference between the ZWC index system and the SDGs. The ZWC index system mentions public satisfaction, but the SDGs do not.
The SDGs involved in the Level 1 indicators are summarized by the SDGs related to the Level 3 indicators (Table 3). The Level 1 indicator of source reduction involves 10 SDGs. Level 1 indicator of resource utilization involves 11 SDGs, the Level 1 indicator of final disposal involves eight SDGs, the Level 1 indicator of safeguarding capacity involves 14 SDGs, and the Level 1 indicator of public satisfaction involves seven SDGs. SDG 17 is a sustainable development goal for all level 1 indicators, which fully reflects the ZWC construction needing the participation of various stakeholders. SDGs 6, 7, 9, and 12 are the sustainable development objectives of the main processes of solid waste, which fully reflect the concept of ZWC low-carbon cycle development.
Solid waste involves various sources such as industry, agriculture, construction, and domestic waste [21]. The industrial sector involves SDGs 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 17, which focus on source reduction and provide important support for the city to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Since the generation and utilization of domestic waste are not limited to a certain field such as industry, agriculture, and construction, they involve all aspects of urban life, although the amount of domestic waste generated is the lowest compared to industry, construction, and agriculture, it involves the most SDGs, mainly SDGs 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17. It fully reflects the role of domestic waste related indicators playing an important role in the sustainable development of cities. The agriculture sector involves SDGs 2, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17, which focus on resource utilization and help to improve the sustainability and safety of agricultural production. The hazardous waste mainly involves SDG 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17. And the protection system mainly involves SDG 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16 and 17.

3.3. Adjust the Industrial Structure and Promote the Refinement of the Whole Industrial Chain

Presently, the problems of solid waste management in Foshan City are mainly in the following four areas. First, the general industrial solid waste generation faces the problem of the high volume, comprehensive utilization of a single path and low-end products, the lack of harmless disposal facilities, the whole process of the solid waste management chain and refined management system have not been perfected, and the lack of effective supervision. Second, domestic source waste faces the relevant regulations, and supporting systems for the management have not been perfected. The chain of recycling and transfer of food waste, construction waste, bulky waste, recyclables, and hazardous waste, etc., classification, resource utilization, and terminal treatment capacity have not been perfected. Third, the comprehensive management mechanism of agricultural solid waste and centralized collection and treatment system needs to be improved, and agricultural science and technology innovation are relatively slow to promote. Fourth, the use of hazardous waste generated in various areas of disposal capacity configuration is unbalanced, resource utilization is not smooth, the standard system is not sound, the high level of hazardous waste utilization technology and equipment is lacking, and information technology supervision capacity should be strengthened. The construction of ZWC can propose management solutions for industrial solid waste, agricultural solid waste, domestic waste, hazardous waste, and fast-growing construction waste and take-away waste [22,23,24]. In this paper, we discuss industrial, domestic, agricultural, and hazardous waste in the context of ZWC and SDGs.

3.3.1. Industrial Solid Waste Reduction at the Source and Resource Utilization for SDGs

There are seven Level 3 indicators focusing on the industry field in the ZWC index system and related to seven SDGs. Due to a large amount of industrial solid waste generation, numerous types and obvious differences in comprehensive utilization, in recent years, China has continued to promote industrial pollution control and industrial restructuring, which has improved the efficiency of resource recycling to a certain extent [25]. General industrial solid waste in Foshan is mainly generated in cogeneration, building ceramic product manufacturing, thermal power generation, other power production, soy sauce vinegar and similar products manufacturing, auto parts and accessories manufacturing, cotton spinning processing, cotton weaving processing, liquor manufacturing, sanitary ceramic product manufacturing, gas and diesel vehicle manufacturing, biomass power generation, beer manufacturing, aluminum rolling processing, refrigeration, air conditioning equipment manufacturing, etc. In industry, the focus of enterprises concentrated on power generation, energy, ceramic manufacturing, food manufacturing, solid waste treatment industry, waste categories to slag, fly ash, desulfurization gypsum, sludge, etc., and the processing methods focus on comprehensive utilization. The general industrial solid waste resources are obvious, the market circulation is strong, and there are fewer environmental pollution accidents. However, due to the lack of attention to the comprehensive utilization of solid waste resources by upstream enterprises, enterprises engaged in the comprehensive utilization of industrial solid waste are mostly small and medium-sized. These enterprises have insufficient investment in technical research and lack major equipment and technology to improve the added value. The competitiveness of the enterprise market and the comprehensive utilization rate of solid waste is low [25]. In order to sustain the high-quality development of the industrial sector, Foshan City is also strengthening the overall management of general industrial solid waste and exploring general industrial solid waste collection and disposal modes and management mechanisms that are suitable for Foshan’s reality. Therefore, in the construction of ZWC, we put forward four recommendations: (1) to develop new industries with low solid waste generation and high recycling rate, leading the low carbon transformation of industry; (2) to reduce the source of solid waste and comprehensive utilization as the goal, promote the recycling transformation of industrial parks and clean production, to achieve harmless, low quantified and resource utilization of solid waste and resource utilization; (3) to build a general industrial solid waste comprehensive utilization industry chain, carry out research on high value-added solid waste technology, build comprehensive utilization projects, and enhance resource utilization; and (4) to give full play to Foshan’s location advantages, cultivate solid waste industry market and technology, and build a recycling industry chain.

3.3.2. Source Reduction and Resource Utilization of Domestic Waste for SDGs

China has been promoting waste separation in recent years, but it has not yet been achieved due to the increasing types of waste, the imperfect research on the industrial chain of separation and recycling and waste incineration technology, and the complexity of a series of stakeholders involved, such as the government, waste recycling companies, incineration companies, and the public [23,26]. In 2020, Foshan City ranked 10th in the country in terms of domestic waste generation, with a total of 4.36 million tons, and there is a risk of “garbage siege” [27]. It is necessary to promote both source reduction and waste separation and incineration systems to achieve domestic waste reduction and resource recovery [19,28]. In the ZWC index system, 11 Level 3 indicators involve 12 SDGs in all aspects of source reduction, resource utilization, and final disposal.
The source reduction of urban domestic waste is influenced by many factors, such as regional economic development, policy-making, and citizen quality [29]. At present, Foshan City has introduced a number of waste classification and incentive policies [30,31] and established a diversion system for bulky waste, landscaping waste, construction waste, and domestic waste [32]. However, it lacks penalties for violating the corresponding policy system [33]. In order to promote the classification of domestic waste and source reduction, Foshan City proposed a “city-led, urban co-creation” form of joint construction, the establishment of 500 institutions, enterprises and institutions, restaurants, shopping malls, markets, communities, villages and towns and other different types of “ZWC cells”, which would help build a good atmosphere for the whole society to participate in the construction of ZWC and improve the recycling rate of renewable resources. However, the relevant creation plan of “ZWC cells” in Foshan City has not yet been issued. It is difficult to guide each unit to create “ZWC cells” and implement the SDGs, and relevant plans need to be issued as soon as possible to promote the overall clean and low-carbon transition transformation of the economy and society and cultivate a zero-waste society [34].
Domestic waste disposal methods include incineration, landfill, recycling, and composting [35]. Although the 14th Five-Year Plan objectives put forward the “full incineration, zero landfill” treatment needs, the current incineration of fly ash and other key technology processes, equipment development, and transformation of results are not yet mature and need further support for technical research [29]. In addition, Foshan City should support the technology research on the application of domestic waste and general industrial solid waste, municipal sludge, and medical waste incineration co-disposal, and further promote the comprehensive utilization of solid waste after the final formation of the product recycling industry chain [19].
Besides that, Foshan City needs to build a sustainable construction waste recycling and disposal industry chain. Although a diversion system for construction waste has been issued, there is still a long way to go before the goal of construction waste separate recycling is achieved. It faces the environmental risks of lacking a statistical reporting system for construction waste generation, the immature comprehensive utilization of technology, and the whole process control system [36]. Unreasonable disposal methods can produce heavy metal pollution to water and soil and dust pollution to the atmosphere, which has become an urgent problem to be solved in ZWC construction. By analyzing the changing trends of construction waste generation in different cities in China over the past 15 years, Wang [37] proposed strengthening research on construction waste recycling technology, regulating the scale of construction industry development, improving labor efficiency and product quality through information technology, and improving the restraint and incentive policies for supporting construction waste reduction at the source. Foshan City’s construction waste mainly comes from commercial housing projects, municipal projects, demolition, and relocation of construction sites, similar to Shenzhen City, which should promote energy-efficient buildings, improve the level of resource utilization of construction waste, construct adequate construction waste disposal sites, achieve the whole process of construction waste management and improve market acceptance of recycled buildings and create access to construction waste recycling [19,36]. In addition, the indicator of “Comprehensive utilization ratio of construction waste” has been set in the construction of ZWC, so it is necessary to reasonably connect the information of solid waste information release with the ZWC index system, and supplement the indicators of construction waste generation intensity and other indicators in time to provide a reference for the construction of a quantifiable ZWC index system [38].

3.3.3. Recyclability of Agricultural Solid Waste for SDGs

The management of agricultural solid waste in China is in its infancy, and although a more complete policy system has been formed, it faces complex real-life problems [39]. Agricultural solid waste is mainly divided into agricultural plastic film, pesticide packaging waste, crop straw, and livestock manure [21]. Agricultural waste management has great potential to reduce GHG emissions [40]. In 2020, the added value of the primary industry in Foshan accounted for only 1.5% of the regional GDP, of which the output value of fisheries accounted for 47.3%, agricultural output accounted for 29.9%, pastoral output accounted for 14.1%, and others accounted for 8.7%. Agricultural solid waste generation mainly comes from agriculture and animal husbandry. The crop sowing area of Foshan City is 834,900 mu, agricultural inputs and straw production are low, and the straw comprehensive utilization rate, livestock and poultry manure comprehensive utilization rate, and agricultural film recycling rate are 95.10%, 89.92%, and 95.57%, respectively. Although Foshan City has reached the “14th Five-Year Plan” requirements of 86%, 80%, and 85% [41,42], it should build an agricultural solid waste recycling system and achieve high-quality and sustainable agricultural development. For recycling agricultural solid waste, 11 indicators of Level 3 in the ZWC index system and seven SDGs are the specific goals.

3.3.4. Hazardous Waste Whole Process Refinement Control to Ensure the Achievement of SDGs

Hazardous wastes are toxic, corrosive, flammable, reactive, or infectious solid wastes generated in industry, agriculture, and life, and improper disposal can cause severe pollution to the surrounding ecological environment and affect social stability and economic development [43]. From the source of hazardous waste generation, 12.9 thousand organizations of the annual generation of less than 10 tons producing units total declared generation of only 7.9 thousand tons, facing a variety of hazardous waste, the problem of difficult disposal. To effectively solve the problem of small and medium-sized organizations’ hazardous waste outlets and to improve the efficiency of the specialized division of labor within the hazardous waste industry. Foshan City first explores the construction of the city’s hazardous waste collection and storage system in the province. The government undertakes regulatory responsibility and puts forward the third-party governance system: establishing a hazardous waste collection unit assessment system, reward and penalty system, and withdrawal system to promote the standardization of enterprise hazardous waste management and improve the third-party governance mechanism for hazardous waste. Third-party enterprises undertake hazardous waste collection, storage, transfer work, and standardized guidance for small and micro institutions. At present, about 4,600 motor vehicle repair enterprises and environmental monitoring laboratories in Foshan City have all been included in the social source of hazardous waste collection and disposal systems. Foshan City needs to further promote the whole process of hazardous waste system construction, refine the hazardous waste index system, strengthen the market system, and technical system and improve the regulatory system to promote the whole process of hazardous waste the whole system of refined control and information technology supervision, to ensure ecological and environmental safety, improve environmental sustainability [13,43,44]. Seven indicators of Level 3 in the ZWC index system and seven SDGs are the specific goals for hazardous waste safety management.

3.4. Improve the Institutional, Technical, Markets, and Regulatory Systems in Various Fields

The main task of building a ZWC is to strengthen the top-level design, take solid waste reduction and recycling rate as the core, change the urban development mode in industry, agriculture, life and construction, hazardous waste, and other aspects of social solid waste, solve the outstanding problems that restrict the sustainable development of the city, and build a social consensus on the concept of “zero waste” [45]. In the institutional system, the relevant regulations, standards system, and related supporting systems in various fields are not sound, it is difficult to support the needs of the refined management of solid waste. In the technical system, the resource utilization and terminal treatment capacity of various fields and solid waste generation do not match the lack of high-level utilization of technology and equipment. In the market system, the areas of classification, recycling, and transfer systems are not perfect, and it is difficult to form a solid waste recycling disposal market-oriented industrial chain. In the regulatory system, solid waste statistics process has not formed a chain of supervision, it is difficult to achieve the whole process of the dynamic, traceable information-based regulatory system. The protection systems involved 15 Level 3 indicators in the ZWC index system and 14 SDGs. SDG 17.16—Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development—and 17.17—Encourage effective partnerships—are the highest frequency goals of the ZWC index system in SDGs, which consist of the construction of a ZWC depends on the participation of all stakeholders, including the government, enterprises, social organizations, and the public [46,47]. The government, coupled with other stakeholders, is concentrating efforts and resources on solid waste management projects as the main goal, proposing innovative initiatives to implement the creation of tasks and building an advanced urban management system in Foshan. Government departments should decompose and implement the tasks of ZWC to 43 relevant departments and are needed to strengthen the front-end reduction, resource management laws and standards, improve the institutional system, the use of price mechanisms, fiscal policies, finance, and other economic instruments to improve the market system, support scientific and technological innovation and the application of transformation to build a high-level technical system and strengthen the whole process of information technology regulatory system [5]. Enterprises should reduce the amount of solid waste generated, improve the resource utilization rate of solid waste, and reduce environmental risks. Social organizations should promote the concept of “zero waste” and guide the public to cultivate the habit of waste separation and establish the correct awareness of environmental protection [26,48]. However, as the construction of ZWC in Foshan has just started, government departments, enterprises and citizens have not yet formed a good communication mechanism. There are currently at the stage of government-led, joint participation of enterprises, social organizations, and citizens. As the concept of sustainability becomes a social consensus, the ultimate construction of a ZWC should be that each stakeholder takes responsibility for solid waste management, with the government changing from the lead to the supervisor.

3.5. Benefits of Foshan City Practical Experience

China has continued to promote the improvement of environmental quality and the construction of “Beautiful China”, with environmental quality improvement and environmental strategic policy reform becoming the focus of ecological environmental protection work since the 13th Five-Year Plan period [49,50]. The construction of ZWC is an innovative model and a systematic project for solid waste pollution prevention [51]. It requires a pilot project to coordinate solid waste management in economic and social development, continuously promote source reduction, resource utilization, and harmless disposal, and explore the establishment of the ZWC institutional, technical, market, regulatory system. Building the ZWC system is a good practice to form a new model of Foshan characteristics. The construction of ZWC and SDGs are conceptually synergistic in solid waste management and can generate integrated economic, social, and environmental benefits to promote sustainable urban development [52]. In terms of economic benefits, the construction of ZWC can increase the employment rate of the recycling industry and give full play to the potential of waste-to-energy incineration [53]. In terms of social benefits, it can cultivate the concept of zero waste and green lifestyle in the whole society, and in terms of environmental benefits, it can reduce environmental risks and have a mitigating effect on global warming, eutrophication, acidification, and photochemical oxidation of water bodies [54]. The construction of ZWC in Foshan is a Chinese action to find the “golden key” for sustainable development and reflects China’s full response to the SDGs and the “A Decade of Action” plan as a responsible country [55].

4. Conclusions and Outlook

ZWC is an urban development model that minimizes the environmental impact of solid waste at the overall city level and is a systematic project built with the participation and sharing of multiple entities. The construction of ZWC in Foshan obeys the common concept of ZWC and the SDGs on solid waste management, sustainable development, resource utilization, and partnerships of different subjects. It is a pilot project to coordinate solid waste management in economic and social development, and is built through two intertwined paths: adjusting the industrial structure and improving the protection system. It continuously promotes source reduction, resource utilization, and harmless disposal of solid waste such as industrial waste, domestic waste, agricultural waste, and hazardous waste, and explores the establishment of the ZWC institutional, technical, market, regulatory system to achieve the ZWC construction goal. Foshan is also facing the problems of the unclear solid waste base, difficulty in quantifying and assessing some indicators, and cross-departmental cooperation across subjects, which need to be improved in future work. In addition, the current construction of ZWC takes solid waste management as its main objective. In order to achieve sustainable urban development, the targets of biodiversity and rural ecology can be added to the ZWC index system in the future. The construction of ZWC in Foshan is just the starting point for the construction of sustainable development management in Chinese cities, providing a case study of the experience of manufacturing-based cities in their transition to sustainable development goals, which can be used in other Chinese cities and even in other emerging countries.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/su141912118/s1.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, T.Q., L.S., Z.W., G.J., and Z.Z.; methodology, T.Q., L.S., Z.W., G.J., and Z.Z.; formal analysis, L.C. and W.X.; investigation, L.S., L.C. and W.X.; writing—original draft preparation, T.Q.; writing—review and editing, T.Q., L.S., L.C., W.X., Z.W., G.J. and Z.Z.; supervision, Z.Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, grant number 2018YFC1902804.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Data were obtained from the local authorities involved in the study. Data are available from the authors with the permission of the respective local authorities.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Foshan Ecological Environment Bureau and the relevant staff of the Solid Waste Management Center for their support.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Sustainability 14 12118 g001 550
Figure 1. The analytical framework of ZWC construction and SDGs.
Figure 1. The analytical framework of ZWC construction and SDGs.
Sustainability 14 12118 g001
Table
Table 1. Summary of solid waste production in Foshan in 2020.
Table 1. Summary of solid waste production in Foshan in 2020.
TypeGeneral Industrial Solid Waste (Thousand Tons)Industrial Hazardous Waste (Thousand Tons)Medical Waste (Thousand Tons)Electronic Waste (Thousand Units)Domestic Waste (Thousand Tons)Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant Sludge (Thousand Tons)
Production4470.4438.57.6442.93885.7271.1
Main typesFly ash, slag, sludge, and desulfurization gypsumIncineration disposal residues, phenol-containing waste, refining and distillation residues, waste acids, and surface treatment wastes- 1---
1 The solid waste of medical waste, electronic waste, domestic waste, and municipal sewage treatment plant sludge do not have subordinate classification statistical table and are indicated as “-”.
Table
Table 2. Correspondence between the ZWC index system of Foshan and the SDGs.
Table 2. Correspondence between the ZWC index system of Foshan and the SDGs.
NoLevel 1 IndicatorsLevel 2 IndicatorsLevel 3 IndicatorsUnitsData (By 2020)2023 GoalsRelated to the UN SDGs
1Source reduction of solid wasteIndustrial source reductionIntensity of industrial solid waste generationton/CNY 10,0000.0780.0789, 12, 17
2Intensity of industrial hazardous waste generationton/CNY 10,0000.00880.0089, 12, 17
3Percentage of industrial enterprises assessed through cleaner production audit%88959, 12, 17
4Number of green factoriespcs31359, 12, 17
5Percentage of industrial parks carrying out ecological industrial park construction, recycling, and green park construction%1001009, 12, 17
6Green mine completion rate%83.310012, 15
7Reduction of carbon emission intensity%3.87≥09, 12, 13, 17
8Industrial source reductionNumber of green food and organic agricultural productspcs12162, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17
9Number of standardized demonstration farms for livestock and poultry breedingpcs0202, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17
10Number of “vegetable basket” basespcs68100 (by2024)2, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17
11Number of exemplary beautiful fishery construction/ 1/8 (by 2025)2, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17
12Construction source reductionProportion of green buildings to new buildings%59.21907, 9, 11
13The proportion of assembled buildings to new buildings%20.1307, 9, 11
14Areas of life source reductionDomestic waste removal volume10,000 ton/day1.21.3512
15Coverage rate of domestic waste classification in urban residential areas%/10011, 12
16Coverage rate of domestic waste sorting in rural areas%/10010, 12
17Utilization rate of green packaging for express delivery%/6012, 14
18Solid waste resource utilizationISW resource utilizationGeneral industrial solid waste utilization ratio%86909, 12, 17
19Industrial hazardous waste utilization system construction//Establish a standard system of product for the resource utilization of hazardous waste; promote the construction of relevant comprehensive utilization facilities.9, 16, 17
20Comprehensive utilization rate of industrial hazardous waste%51.66606, 9, 12, 17
21Utilization of agricultural wasteComprehensive utilization ratio of straw%95.1962, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17
22 Comprehensive utilization ratio of livestock and poultry manure%89.92902, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17
23Coverage rate of pesticide packaging waste and agricultural film recycling system%401002, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17
24Film recovery rate%95.57972, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17
25Pesticide packaging waste recycling rate%15.8302, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17
26Chemical pesticide utilization rate%40.8>40%2, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17
27Chemical fertilizer utilization rate%40.17>40%2, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17
28Utilization of construction wasteComprehensive utilization ratio of construction waste%/306, 12, 14, 15, 17
29Utilization of solid waste resources infield of lifeComprehensive utilization ratio of construction waste%/252, 6, 7, 12, 14, 15, 17
30Growth rate of renewable resource recycling%12.9106, 8, 12, 17
31Recovery rate of recoverable resources in medical and health institutions%/993, 12, 14, 15, 17
32 Coverage of product-based waste recycling systems for automotive power batteries, end-of-life motor vehicles, etc.%/706, 8, 12, 17
33Final disposal of solid wasteSafe disposal of hazardous wasteIndustrial hazardous waste landfill disposal volume decline%−198.9−22.738, 9, 11, 12
34Medical waste collection and disposal system coverage ratio%1001003, 9, 12, 17
35Safe disposal of industrial hazardous waste10,000 ton40.661008, 9, 11, 12
36Social hazardous waste collection and disposal system coverage ratio%1001006, 12, 17
37General ISW storage and disposalGeneral industrial solid waste storage and disposal volume decline%18.619.89, 12, 17
38Solid waste disposal infield of lifeReduction in sanitary landfill volume of domestic waste%28759, 12, 17
39Incineration capacity of domestic waste treatment ratio%62.5907, 12, 17
40Harmless disposal rate of urban sewage sludge%1001006, 11, 17
41Support capacityInstitutional system constructionLocal regulations or policy documents for ZWC management//Develop and revise relevant local regulations and policies6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17
42Coordination mechanism for ZWC management//Forming a good collaboration mechanism6, 11, 16, 17
43ZWC construction included in local government performance appraisal//Put the ZWC construction work into the responsible units of ecological civilization construction assessment content6, 11, 16, 17
44 Number of units carrying out ZWC cells (organs, enterprises and institutions, hotels, shopping centers, markets, communities, villages)pcs/5004, 6, 11, 13, 16, 17
45Market system constructionTotal investment in ZWC construction projects100 million CYN/1121, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17
46Hazardous waste management unit environmental pollution liability insurance coverage%/1003, 8, 11, 12, 17
47Green industry guidance fund100 million CYN/201, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17
48Technical system constructionMainly involved in the development of technical standards and norms for the resourcefulness and harmlessness of solid wastepcs/59, 16, 17
49Solid waste recycling and disposal of key technology processes, equipment development, and transformation of results//Support the city’s research institutes and enterprises to carry out more than three solid waste recycling, utilization, disposal of key technology processes, equipment development, and transformation of results4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 17
50Build an open network system of hazardous waste collection, storage, and transportation//More than 60% of the city’s waste production units are through the collection, storage, and transportation network system for collection6, 11, 12, 16, 17
51Regulatory system constructionSolid waste management information technology supervision//Completed Foshan ZWC service management platform (Phase II)6, 11, 12, 16
52Pass rate for standardized management of hazardous wasteGenerating units%/986, 11, 12, 16
Operating Units%1001006, 11, 12, 16
53Solid waste environmental pollution criminal case filing rate%10010011, 12, 16
54Solid waste-related letters, complaints, reported cases completion rate%10010011, 12, 16, 17
55Coverage of solid waste environmental pollution cases to carry out ecological and environmental damage compensation work%10010011, 12, 16, 17
56Masses’ sense of acquisitionMasses’ sense of acquisitionZWC construction publicity, education, and training popularization rate%/804, 5, 6, 11, 13, 16, 17
57Degree of government, enterprise, institution, and public participation in ZWC construction%/8016, 17
58Public satisfaction with the effectiveness of ZWC construction//Satisfaction -2
1 Data that cannot be counted or are not counted in the index system indicated as “/”. 2 Indicator cannot be matched indicated as “-”.
Table
Table 3. Correspondence between the Level 1 indicators of the ZWC index system of Foshan and the SDGs.
Table 3. Correspondence between the Level 1 indicators of the ZWC index system of Foshan and the SDGs.
NoUN SDGsSolid Waste Reduction at SourceSolid Waste Resource UtilizationSolid Waste Final DisposalProtection CapacityPublic Satisfaction
1No poverty00020
2Zero hunger48020
3Good health and well-being01110
4Quality education00021
5Gender equality00001
6Clean water and sanitation0122101
7Affordable and clean energy21120
8Decent work and economic growth02250
9Industry, innovation and lnfrastructure83550
10Reduced lnequalities10030
11Sustainable cities and communities603131
12Responsible consumption and production15147100
13Climate action10021
14Life below water510000
15Life on land510000
16Peace, justice and strong institutions010112
17Partnerships for the goals10106122
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Qin, T.; She, L.; Wang, Z.; Chen, L.; Xu, W.; Jiang, G.; Zhang, Z. The Practical Experience of “Zero Waste City” Construction in Foshan City Condenses the Chinese Solution to the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability 2022, 14, 12118. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912118

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Qin T, She L, Wang Z, Chen L, Xu W, Jiang G, Zhang Z. The Practical Experience of “Zero Waste City” Construction in Foshan City Condenses the Chinese Solution to the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability. 2022; 14(19):12118. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912118

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Qin, Tianyu, Lingling She, Zhaolong Wang, Luosong Chen, Wanyi Xu, Gaoming Jiang, and Zhe Zhang. 2022. "The Practical Experience of “Zero Waste City” Construction in Foshan City Condenses the Chinese Solution to the Sustainable Development Goals" Sustainability 14, no. 19: 12118. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912118

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