A sixth online waste recycling center has been set up in Huangpu District, and four more centers will be available to the public this year.

Since the online waste recycle concept was introduced in 2003, profits had risen about 100 times by last year, the Shanghai New Jinhua Waste Recycling Internet Center said.

New Jinhua had collected about 2 billion yuan (US$286 million) worth of waste in the first 10 months of 2007, making a profit of about 7 million yuan. The profit in 2005 was 5 million yuan while in 2003, the first year the business began, was 76,000 yuan.

The new concept overturned the traditional method of sending workers around the city to sound their bells and collect waste. With the new system, residents need only click the mouse or make a phone call and wait for the worker to arrive at their home.

Currently the online waste recycle centers cover Changning, Putuo, Luwan, Hongkou, Huangpu and Pudong.

New Jinhua offers a price 10 percent higher than mobile collectors for waste. Every center has about 10 waste stations.

Residents can log on to www.xjh-waste.com or call 400-6209-500.

(Shanghai Daily April 28, 2008)