China aims to have all its cities adopt zero-waste strategies nationwide by 2035, establishing a sustainable and comprehensive solid waste management system across the country, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Tuesday.
For a short-term objective, China aims to expand its zero-waste city pilot program to cover 60 percent of the country by 2027, achieving significant reductions in solid waste generation intensity, according to Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment Li Gao at a press conference in Beijing.
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), [we will] further advance the construction of zero-waste cities by expanding them to about 200, and make efforts to promote the joint construction of regional zero-waste cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Yangtze River Midstream City Cluster, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region," he said.
In 2019, 11 cities and five areas in China were selected to pilot waste-free programs that place a dual emphasis on reducing trash at the source and increasing recycling.
Under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), China has designated 113 prefecture-level cities and eight special regions to advance zero-waste construction. More than 3,000 solid-waste management projects have been implemented with an investment of approximately 560 billion yuan (about 80 billion U.S. dollars).
China defines a "zero-waste city" not as one that produces no waste, but as an urban model that minimizes landfill through green production and lifestyles, source-level reduction and resource recovery, driving solid waste impacts as low as possible.
China aims for full zero-waste city coverage by 2035
Some Iranians in Türkiye are crossing back over the border, driven by worry and desperation, as a nationwide communications blackout in Iran has left them cut off from their loved ones.
Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec. 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.
At the Turkish-Iranian border, many are returning with no certainty about what awaits them, filled instead with questions and growing fear for those on the other side of the border.
"I went to Van yesterday for internet. I urgently needed to use the internet. I got it done. Now I'm heading straight back. There are protests everywhere. We can't get any news. We can't communicate with our families. And it's not just me, there are many Iranians outside the country who can't reach their families," said Feriste, an Iranian citizen.
With communications blacked out across Iran, those outside the country feel powerless to check on the situation back home. For some, this silence has prompted them to return across the border, even as tensions continue to rise.
"We can't get any news. There is no internet. Everything is shut down. I want to search. I want to find out. I want to see my brother. I'm going to see my family," said Husnu, an Iranian citizen.
"I work in Türkiye, and I have no news from Iran at all. I'm going back because I'm worried about my family. It's been days since I last heard from them, and because I'm worried, I'm returning to Iran now. Of course, we are concerned about our safety. We don't know what awaits us there," said another Iranian.
With protests escalating and government blackouts still in place, many Iranians are caught between staying in safety abroad and risking everything to reconnect with their families.
"We had to come to Türkiye because we couldn't reach our families. Schools were closed already. All official institutions were shut down. We have no information about other cities either, because there is no communication network there. There is no television, no internet. We can't even check Twitter," said Nazlican, another Iranian citizen.
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
