Eleme adds new service to encourage garbage sorting

China's online food-delivery platform Eleme has activated a new service on its app of picking up garbage from its users in Shanghai in a bid to promote garbage sorting, according to a note from its official Weibo account.

Eleme's deliveryman rides a motorbike. [File photo: IC]

The move comes after a recently-released regulation on domestic waste management in Shanghai, with laws to make garbage sorting compulsory, instead of voluntary.

The Eleme Weibo account says the service only applies for sorted garbage, which is in line with the regulation. However, it has triggered heated discussion among netizens for its expensive charge, asking for 12 yuan for an order.

"The price is too high, I don't think Eleme is providing a plausible service for its users, it just wants to make money." commented by a Weibo netizen.

Garbage classification has been a buzz word for decades in China as the government endeavors to implement relevant regulations. While people have become aware of the importance of sorting garbage, the efforts in implementing garbage classification have been slow.

When Shanghai's regulation comes into effect, individuals who violate the regulation would face fines of up to 200 yuan (about 29 USD), and up to 50,000 yuan for institutions or companies.

The move by Eleme is considered a push for the government's goal of setting up a system to classify and dispose of household garbage by 2020.