Building a "Mobile Classroom": Igniting New Momentum for Waste Sorting through "Teaching + Exchange"

Creating a "Mobile Classroom"

"Boss, look at this takeout—contaminated packaging bags are classified as other waste, and the leftovers inside must be thrown into the kitchen waste bin. Never mix them up!" Recently, grid leaders from Taikang Community, Zhonggongmiao Sub-district, Yinzhou District, brought promotional brochures and waste sorting teaching aids to newly opened street-front stores in the area, turning the waste sorting "Mobile Classroom" into a on-site service. Through "on-site teaching + practical drills," they provided tailor-made waste sorting guidance for merchants.

This "Mobile Classroom" focused on newly opened stores in the community. Grid leaders acted as "mobile instructors," visiting various new businesses including catering, retail, and convenient service outlets in accordance with the principle of "one store, one classroom; targeted solutions to problems." Instead of rigidly following scripts, the grid leaders explained sorting key points through "case analysis + physical demonstration" combined with the daily operation scenarios of the stores: for catering merchants, they focused on teaching the distinction between kitchen waste and other waste; for retail stores, they detailed the classification and storage methods for recyclables such as packaging cartons and plastic bottles, as well as the temporary storage requirements for hazardous waste like waste lead-acid batteries and waste light tubes. When merchants raised questions, the grid leaders immediately took out different types of waste samples and provided hands-on guidance for practical sorting drills until the merchants fully mastered the skills.

Practical Guidance + Incentive Exchange: Making Waste Sorting Rewarding

"This 'face-to-face' teaching is so practical! With the grid leaders' on-site guidance, it's easy to understand and master," said Mr. Li, the owner of a newly opened stationery store, holding the promotional brochure and carefully noting down the list of hazardous waste. During the visits, grid leaders presented each store with a customized "sorting textbook"—a graphic promotional brochure that not only clarifies the classification list, disposal requirements, and relevant regulations for various types of waste but also includes the community's waste sorting guidance hotline, facilitating merchants to consult about "post-class questions" at any time. Meanwhile, the grid leaders specially informed the merchants that the community service center has a permanent "hazardous waste exchange point." Hazardous waste such as expired medicines and waste light tubes generated in daily operations can be exchanged for practical items like dishwashing liquid, garbage bags, and environmentally friendly plants, making waste sorting not only "doable" but also "rewarding."

In addition to on-site teaching, the "Mobile Classroom" also included a "commitment signing + long-term follow-up" session. Grid leaders signed the Waste Sorting Commitment Letter with merchants, clarifying their responsibilities and obligations regarding waste sorting.

It is reported that this waste sorting "Mobile Classroom" covered more than 30 newly opened street-front stores in Taikang Community, conducted over 50 on-site teaching sessions, and distributed more than 200 promotional brochures. By moving the "classroom" to the frontline of business operations, it not only helped waste sorting knowledge truly reach merchants' hearts and translate into practical actions, effectively improving their awareness rate, accuracy rate, and participation rate in waste sorting but also consolidated the primary responsibility of stores for waste sorting. In the next step, Taikang Community will continue to deepen the "Mobile Classroom" model for waste sorting, regularly carry out follow-up retraining, promote publicity and supervision as well as hazardous waste exchange activities on a regular basis, and continuously improve the "teaching + service + incentive" working mechanism. This will allow the concept of green sorting to take root and bear fruit in store operations, and promote the formation of a sound atmosphere where "everyone can sort waste, every household abides by the rules, and the whole community benefits."