As Fig. 3 shows, in the first stage MSW go into public
containers and self-provided containers. Usually Chinese residents
prepare containers in households by themselves. These containers
are set out for the storage of mixed wastes and are fixed in designated
locations for scheduled pickup. During the MSW collection
stage, recyclables are collected in two ways. One portion of the
recyclables is collected by residents themselves; the other portion
enters the municipal recycling system via scavengers and collectors
who accumulate the recyclables for profit. Usually scavengers
and cleaners collect these recyclables while patrolling different
residential areas (Yuan et al., 2006). All these recyclables are sold
to recycling companies. While the non-recyclables go through collection
points, transfer stations and are assembled by waste collection
companies; in the last stage recyclables turn into renewable
products while non-recyclables end up in landfills or incineration
factories.
In the collection of recyclables the total quantity of recyclables
differed in the eight pilot cities. In the analysis of Table 3, the