A Qualitative Study on the Effectiveness and Influencing Factors of Waste-free City Construction

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of Shenzhen’s “Waste-free City” construction and its influencing factors through semi-structured interviews and policy text analysis. The study found that Shenzhen has built a modern solid waste management system based on institutions, technologies, markets and public participation, and has achieved significant quantitative results. For example, the recycling rate of classified domestic waste exceeds 50%, the resource utilization rate reaches 87.8%, and the resource utilization rate of construction waste is 99%, achieving zero landfill of primary waste. However, some problems still exist, such as insufficient economic feasibility of some technologies, weak participation of small and medium-sized enterprises, and low implementation by residents. The study recommends strengthening regional coordination, increasing investment in technology transformation, and optimizing the environment for public participation to promote the “Shenzhen model” and contribute to the Greater Bay Area's ecological civilization and high-quality development.