Improvised scooper in hand, a retiree devotes his life to cleaning up a local stretch of the river
March 31, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IT'S been a long, slow process, but after 13 years of efforts by three generations of volunteers, a section of the Huangpu riverbank once fouled by rubbish is finally turning into an eco-triumph.
The cleanup has been centered in Wujing Park, on the upper reaches of the river.
Since 1998, scooping up floating rubbish has become a routine for 74-year-old Zhang Gengda. On the first and 15th days of the Chinese lunar calendar each month, Zhang and his 68-year-old wife Zhang Luxian are out collecting trash and debris, no matter what the weather.
In the past nine years, the couple reckons they have removed almost 1,000 tons of trash.
Lunar calendar aside, the Zhangs visit the site almost every day, either to remove a bit of rubbish or just to have a look.
Zhang, with a simple nylon net affixed to a bamboo pole in his hand, said he doesn't mind that he gets covered with dirt often when he is out cleaning.
Zhang has become the "poster boy" for the current volunteer team working to clean up that stretch of river. The team has about 23 permanent members, most of them retirees inspired by Zhang's dedication. Minhang students and staff from local companies often pitch in on special occasions like March 5, Lei Feng Day, which celebrates selfless devotion to the country.
The Wujing area is home to a cluster of factories, many of which have been linked to river pollution.
Zhang, who formerly worked at the Shanghai Coking & Chemical Corp, was born in Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province. He remembers the verdant hills and pristine waters of his hometown.
"I wish the waters of the Huangpu could be as clear as those in my hometown," he said.
Zhang lives about a 30-minute walk from the park. In 1998, he and his wife met Wang Xianming, the first volunteer dedicated to the river cleanup. They often saw him, then in his 60s, laboring alone and decided to give him a hand.
At that time, the task was herculean. There was so much trash that Wang had to push a handcart along to transport heavy trash to the garbage depot. The park was not yet constructed.
The Zhangs helped push the handcart and donated tools to Wang, who had no family members and lived alone.
In 2003, Wang died of cancer, and Zhang decided to take up his cause in a more serious manner.
Zhang said he still remembers Wang's words: "Volunteer work cannot be stopped, and if I could stand up, I would continue it."
"I share the same affection for the Huangpu River," said Zhang. "It's the city's mother river, and I love the place where I live."
Zhang also keeps a tide table left by Wang, which records the time of each tidal rise of the Wujing section of the Huangpu River.
"The best time to scoop up rubbish is when tide rises because trash will float on the surface," he said.
The first and 15th days of the lunar calendar witness tidal rise, and 2pm is the ideal time to catch it.
Zhang made tools himself.
"I bought the nylon net and assembled an iron hoop on the bamboo pole," he said. Once, the bamboo poles he left in the park were stolen at night. When word got out, he was besieged by offerings of bamboo poles from local companies.
There are three scars on the fingers of Zhang's right hand. During the Lantern Festival in 2009, he was scooping up rubbish as usual when other people were enjoying the holiday.
Pushing the garbage bin, Zhang fainted and injured himself on a sharp edge of the bin on his fall. The injury slowed him down a bit, but he was back on river duty as soon as his hand healed.
As he gets older, he feels the pain of such arduous work. In March, 2011, he was diagnosed with mild stroke and spent more than three months in treatment. His wife said Zhang insisted on visiting the cleanup site even while under treatment.
Now the team has been expanded to more than 20 people, with an average age of nearly 60 years old. Most of them live nearby.
Encouraged by him, Zhang's children and even grandchildren have joined in the effort.
Unlike other families, who usually spend the first day of the Chinese New Year visiting relatives, Zhang's family toils along the river banks in chilly weather.
"I will continue the work until the day when I can't do it anymore," he said. "I still feel sad when I see any rubbish floating in the river."
He said environmental awareness has meant fewer and fewer empty water bottles in the river. Zhang also spends time helping clean up rubbish in the park and around the residential complex where he lives.
In his spare time, Zhang likes playing mahjong, cards and chess. He also does a little stock investing.
This year so far, the volunteers have visited the river cleanup site more than 20 times, and each time, at least two barrels of trash were collected.
"Less trash is our biggest reward," Zhang said.
The cleanup has been centered in Wujing Park, on the upper reaches of the river.
Since 1998, scooping up floating rubbish has become a routine for 74-year-old Zhang Gengda. On the first and 15th days of the Chinese lunar calendar each month, Zhang and his 68-year-old wife Zhang Luxian are out collecting trash and debris, no matter what the weather.
In the past nine years, the couple reckons they have removed almost 1,000 tons of trash.
Lunar calendar aside, the Zhangs visit the site almost every day, either to remove a bit of rubbish or just to have a look.
Zhang, with a simple nylon net affixed to a bamboo pole in his hand, said he doesn't mind that he gets covered with dirt often when he is out cleaning.
Zhang has become the "poster boy" for the current volunteer team working to clean up that stretch of river. The team has about 23 permanent members, most of them retirees inspired by Zhang's dedication. Minhang students and staff from local companies often pitch in on special occasions like March 5, Lei Feng Day, which celebrates selfless devotion to the country.
The Wujing area is home to a cluster of factories, many of which have been linked to river pollution.
Zhang, who formerly worked at the Shanghai Coking & Chemical Corp, was born in Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province. He remembers the verdant hills and pristine waters of his hometown.
"I wish the waters of the Huangpu could be as clear as those in my hometown," he said.
Zhang lives about a 30-minute walk from the park. In 1998, he and his wife met Wang Xianming, the first volunteer dedicated to the river cleanup. They often saw him, then in his 60s, laboring alone and decided to give him a hand.
At that time, the task was herculean. There was so much trash that Wang had to push a handcart along to transport heavy trash to the garbage depot. The park was not yet constructed.
The Zhangs helped push the handcart and donated tools to Wang, who had no family members and lived alone.
In 2003, Wang died of cancer, and Zhang decided to take up his cause in a more serious manner.
Zhang said he still remembers Wang's words: "Volunteer work cannot be stopped, and if I could stand up, I would continue it."
"I share the same affection for the Huangpu River," said Zhang. "It's the city's mother river, and I love the place where I live."
Zhang also keeps a tide table left by Wang, which records the time of each tidal rise of the Wujing section of the Huangpu River.
"The best time to scoop up rubbish is when tide rises because trash will float on the surface," he said.
The first and 15th days of the lunar calendar witness tidal rise, and 2pm is the ideal time to catch it.
Zhang made tools himself.
"I bought the nylon net and assembled an iron hoop on the bamboo pole," he said. Once, the bamboo poles he left in the park were stolen at night. When word got out, he was besieged by offerings of bamboo poles from local companies.
There are three scars on the fingers of Zhang's right hand. During the Lantern Festival in 2009, he was scooping up rubbish as usual when other people were enjoying the holiday.
Pushing the garbage bin, Zhang fainted and injured himself on a sharp edge of the bin on his fall. The injury slowed him down a bit, but he was back on river duty as soon as his hand healed.
As he gets older, he feels the pain of such arduous work. In March, 2011, he was diagnosed with mild stroke and spent more than three months in treatment. His wife said Zhang insisted on visiting the cleanup site even while under treatment.
Now the team has been expanded to more than 20 people, with an average age of nearly 60 years old. Most of them live nearby.
Encouraged by him, Zhang's children and even grandchildren have joined in the effort.
Unlike other families, who usually spend the first day of the Chinese New Year visiting relatives, Zhang's family toils along the river banks in chilly weather.
"I will continue the work until the day when I can't do it anymore," he said. "I still feel sad when I see any rubbish floating in the river."
He said environmental awareness has meant fewer and fewer empty water bottles in the river. Zhang also spends time helping clean up rubbish in the park and around the residential complex where he lives.
In his spare time, Zhang likes playing mahjong, cards and chess. He also does a little stock investing.
This year so far, the volunteers have visited the river cleanup site more than 20 times, and each time, at least two barrels of trash were collected.
"Less trash is our biggest reward," Zhang said.
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