A volunteer assists a resident in using a smart recycling machine at a community collection point in Longhua District. Photos courtesy of the Longhua Waste Sorting Education Center

A recycling system built in Longhua District is emerging as a working model for Shenzhen’s push toward a more circular, low-carbon urban economy, drawing citywide attention at a meeting held in the district this week.

The event, hosted at Longhua’s recyclable waste sorting center on April 28, brought together about 50 officials and industry representatives to review progress and explore how the city can scale up its recycling network. Rather than focusing solely on policy, the meeting highlighted a system already operating on the ground — one that links household sorting, collection, transport and processing into a coordinated chain.

City authorities pointed to Longhua’s approach as a reference for broader rollout, citing its ability to combine government coordination, market participation and community engagement in a more standardized framework.  

Smart recycling and waste-sorting bins are installed in a residential community in Longhua District, making it easier for residents to separate household waste.

In practical terms, the system is built to be both visible and usable. Across the district, around 1,700 smart recycling units have been installed, covering all residential communities. Recyclables are collected daily and fed into a logistics and processing network that handles more than 30 tonnes per day on average, with a recovery rate of 53.7%, according to official data.

At the back end, two intelligent sorting centers process the materials with an accuracy rate of over 95%, helping ensure that collected waste can be effectively reused. The system has also supported the growth of a local recycling industry, generating more than 300 jobs and attracting over 50 million yuan (about US$6.9 million) in investment.

（L）Bales of sorted recyclable materials are stacked at a recycling sorting center in Longhua District. The facility processes collected waste for further reuse.
（R）Recyclable paper is sorted into different grades at a processing area inside a recycling center in Longhua District. 

What distinguishes Longhua’s model is how the system is organized. The district has moved to address fragmentation in the recycling sector by creating a clearer structure that connects different levels of administration — district, subdistrict and community — while bringing in private operators to build and run infrastructure.

Under this model, companies are responsible for investing in and operating smart recycling facilities, from collection points to sorting and distribution, reducing the need for direct government funding and encouraging more efficient, market-driven operations.

The system is also designed to fit into everyday urban settings. Recycling facilities have been integrated into a wide range of locations, including schools, transport hubs, parks and industrial zones, making participation more convenient for residents and businesses.

The exterior of a recyclable waste sorting center in Longhua District, part of the district’s expanding recycling and resource recovery network.

During the meeting, participants toured the sorting center to observe the process in action, from standardized transport systems to automated sorting lines. Many described the approach as highly organized and replicable, with the potential to support Shenzhen’s broader environmental goals.

As the city moves toward expanding its recycling network, Longhua is increasingly being used as a testing ground — offering a model that connects environmental targets with practical, scalable solutions for urban sustainability.