Shanghai Cuts Industrial Waste by 98%

Shanghai, China, significantly reduced its industrial waste by 98% through recycling initiatives. In 2019, the city began a plan to address the roughly 26,000 metric tons of daily waste it produced.

Since then, Shanghai invested in recycling, composting, and a circular economy. Domestic recycling rates have risen by 10%, with 35 to 45% of all waste now correctly sorted for collection.

CSMET, a company in the Jinshan district, leads this change. They transform industrial and household aluminum scrap into new aluminum products.

The company processes 130,000 tons of aluminum scrap annually, preventing 36 million tons of CO2 emissions. Smaller, regional operations also help manage waste in this city of 25 million people.

Though Shanghai’s recycling rate remains below some European cities like Bucharest, its scale presents unique challenges. The city continues to refine its waste management system with new containers and stricter regulations.

Companies like Bluepha are also emerging, creating sustainable alternatives from waste oil. Shanghai scored 86.9 out of 100 on a national waste management scale.