A new regulation requiring all restaurants, food-processing companies and canteens to let the sanitation bureau collect garbage will start on April 1 in Shanghai.
   
According to the new regulation, anyone who fails to comply will be fined up to 30,000 yuan (US$3,614), said Liu Weiguang, a spokesman for the Shanghai Public Sanitation Bureau.
   
Many restaurants allow individuals to collect garbage. The restaurants usually do not pay for the service as the garbage collector sells the food waste to pig farmers.
   
"Garbage contains many pests which are harmful to people," Liu said. "And we are very likely to eat those pigs fed by such garbage."
   
According to statistics from the bureau, the city produces about 1,300 tons of garbage from restaurants and food-processing firms per day.
   
Liu said before the new regulation takes effect, the bureau could only provide information to those affected. He added the bureau doesn't have the right to fine, so the situation persists.
   
The bureau will charge restaurants 60 to 80 yuan per barrel for treatment and disposal. One barrel has a capacity of 240 liters.
   
Xu Haiming, the owner of two restaurants - one in Xuhui District and one in Putuo District, said he once asked individuals to collect garbage.
   
"I found the work they did was not very clean," Xu said.
   
He said the regulation probably won't affect business much.
   
It will likely cost each small restaurant more than 3,000 yuan per month for the bureau to collect their garbage.

(Shanghai Daily March 4, 2005)