It is necessary for the Guangzhou city government to use economic tools and invite enterprises and social organizations to help classify residents’ garbage, says an article in Southern Metropolis Daily. Excerpts:

The Guangzhou city government attributed the failure of the city’s garbage classification to a poor system, lack of input, inefficient operation, absence of law and weak publicity.

The main cause is the government intended to do the job by itself.

The government’s original confidence in garbage classification poses a sharp contrast to its embarrassing admittance of its failure today.

The government needs to be awakened to the fact that it should not take sole responsibility for garbage classification.

The seemingly simple environmental project on paper is a complicated process in practice.

The government should not keep the task as only its job. It should instead make good use of economic tools to motivate residents to classify their waste.

That government officials recently decided to invite enterprises and social organizations to participate in rubbish classification represents a reasonable and pragmatic way to tackle the issue.

Shanghai sets a good example for Guangzhou of uniting different parties behind the beneficial activity, and has generated ideal effects.

Shanghai’s experience should remind local governors that the government should delegate more powers to the society and market. There is no almighty government in today’s fast-changing society. The government should instead serve as a coordinator for many public activities.

The transformation of the government role can relieve its burdens, and allow the people to enjoy better public services.