Work Permits for Trash Collectors Criticized as Money Grab

Trash collectors in a region in northwest Chinese will now need to apply for permits for what they do. The Heyang County government in Shaanxi province introduced new regulations for trash recycling this month, but some have criticized the move as an attempt to squeeze those in the bottom rung of society.

The new regulation came into effect on October 1st. It requires trash or recyclable waste collectors to display government issued permits both on their bodies and vehicles. Authorities say the move will help them to manage the trash collectors, but some think it’s just to make money. In order to get permit to operate, collectors have to first pay a fee.

Heyang County is not the first to introduce the operational permits for trash collectors. Similar requirements have been introduced or are being considered in other parts of China.

[Mr Chen, Guangdong Resident]:
“Those people who collect trash on the streets are already in extreme poverty. They just want to survive. Now you want them to pay for these permits. It means, before they can make money, they’re already being short changed by the government. This is really shameful.”

Others turned their criticisms to officials, questioning whether they even receive “permits” to work in office.

[Mr Guo, Shenzhen Resident]:
“This so called work permit, well, do the government officials have work permits? Who issued them? The public? Did we vote for you? Officials get their positions through backdoor methods, but the public needs a permit do this and that, how do officials show their legitimacy?”

Hebei province introduced a similar requirement for trash collectors in February. Authorities in neighboring Henan province are also considering the move.

Critics of the new regulation say that instead of managing the individual trash collectors, authorities need to educate the public on recycling and how to deal with toxic or hazardous waste.

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