Gaocheng has 204 households and a population of 895. In June the village launched a system of incentives to help villagers cultivate the habit of good waste handling. Supervisors rate every household's performance and award a mark. [Photo by Xiao Da/China Daily]

While the total volume of garbage is difficult to calculate, it is decreasing because villagers have become aware of the wisdom of collecting waste paper boxes and bottles for reuse or sale, Yu said.

The village is located in the Gaoting Mountain scenic region well known for its peach blossoms in spring, so fallen tree branches and leaves complicate villagers' task in keeping things clean and tidy. The village thus spent 50,000 yuan on machinery to pulverize this waste and turn it into fertilizer.

The village administration deals with used batteries and bulky waste.

Yu said his mother, in her 70s, at first considered sorting garbage a waste of time and refused to comply with the regulations, but changed her mind after being a supervisor for a month. She has been able to teach others tips on classification.