Ordos’ first waste-for-goods supermarket opens

A special supermarket where people can swap their wastes for daily supplies captures people’s attention after it was reported by a local media organization. [Photo/official WeChat account of Ordos]

A special supermarket where people can swap waste for articles of daily use in Ordos went viral on the internet after a recent report by a local media organization.

Located in Qupan village, Mengxi town in Otog Banner, the supermarket officially began operations in June 2017. It is the first supermarket of such nature in the city of Ordos.

The supermarket was set up by local the authority with the aim of developing environmental awareness among local residents.

The shop has eight dust bins with labels marking different categories of waste such as cans, waste paper and plastics on each of the bins. There is also a detailed list pasted on the wall of the shop stating the exact swapping rules.

According to the rules, a kilogram of waste paper is worth one yuan ($0.16); a kilogram of plastic is worth a quarter yuan; and a beer bottle, a fifth yuan.

The shop offers 95 kinds of daily supplies for swapping. The items include soaps, toothpaste and gloves. Local residents take their waste ready for swap to the supermarket and calculate the total value according to the rules, and then choose the goods that are of equal value.

The local government also offers subsidies to support the practice.

The statistics indicate that the supermarket collects nearly 5,310 cans, 8,904 beer bottles and 820 kilograms of waste paper and clothes on a monthly basis.

There are eight dust bins with labels indicating different categories of waste such as cans, waste paper and plastics. [Photo/official WeChat account of Ordos] 

The supermarket offers various kinds of daily supplies for people to swap for with waste. [Photo/official WeChat account of Ordos]