Butt naturally, drive for clean city title ongoing
By Wang Qingchu |
October 27, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE government of a city in northwest China won't call off the campaign rewarding locals for collecting cigarette butts in a bid to apply for the national "clean city" title, despite some controversies surrounding the movement.
Thousands of residents, especially old people, in Xianyang City of Shaanxi Province, have been motivated by the policy which rewards 0.05 yuan (0.8 US cent) for each cigarette butt picked up from streets, part of its efforts to win the title of the national sanitary city, Shaanxi-based Chinese Business View reported yesterday.
Local authorities promised the policy will at least last till the end of this year despite some people taking advantage of the policy.
Some residents have brought in large amount of cigarette butts from Internet cafes, board game rooms and even trash bins to trade for money. Rag pickers were among the group. To cope with the problem, the local government has set more conditions. Personal ID cards and proof from a street cleaner confirming the cigarette butts were collected from a certain street are now required.
The good intentions of the government to promote public sanitation were skewed by some opportunists, said Li Yuanfeng, a community officer in Xianyang's Qindu District. Because no punishment was imposed on them, the community office had to halt rewards for huge butt hauls and only take in those that were confirmed to be from public streets, Li said.
However, the local government said the campaign has started to bear fruit. They have shelled out over 100,000 yuan since the policy was initiated on September 18, and fewer cigarette butts are now seen on streets.
Thousands of residents, especially old people, in Xianyang City of Shaanxi Province, have been motivated by the policy which rewards 0.05 yuan (0.8 US cent) for each cigarette butt picked up from streets, part of its efforts to win the title of the national sanitary city, Shaanxi-based Chinese Business View reported yesterday.
Local authorities promised the policy will at least last till the end of this year despite some people taking advantage of the policy.
Some residents have brought in large amount of cigarette butts from Internet cafes, board game rooms and even trash bins to trade for money. Rag pickers were among the group. To cope with the problem, the local government has set more conditions. Personal ID cards and proof from a street cleaner confirming the cigarette butts were collected from a certain street are now required.
The good intentions of the government to promote public sanitation were skewed by some opportunists, said Li Yuanfeng, a community officer in Xianyang's Qindu District. Because no punishment was imposed on them, the community office had to halt rewards for huge butt hauls and only take in those that were confirmed to be from public streets, Li said.
However, the local government said the campaign has started to bear fruit. They have shelled out over 100,000 yuan since the policy was initiated on September 18, and fewer cigarette butts are now seen on streets.
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