Synergistic strategies for regional “zero-waste city” construction

“Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development” emphasizes deepening cross-administrative cooperation, and improving mechanisms for inter-regional planning coordination, industrial collaboration, and benefit sharing to promote regional linked development. While China’s “zero-waste city” initiative has achieved remarkable results, its long-term sustainability necessitates a shift towards coordinated regional synergy. This requires establishing enduring mechanisms for collaborative solid waste governance that transcend governmental, hierarchical, and departmental boundaries. The ultimate goal is to optimize the allocation of waste treatment resources between neighboring and even non-adjacent regions, foster a virtuous cycle of co-construction, co-governance, and shared benefits, and bolster a green, low-carbon transition alongside upgraded new quality productive forces. This paper elucidates the significant importance of synergistically advancing the regional “zero-waste city” development. It systematically reviews the progress made, analyzes the current landscape, and identifies existing challenges. Finally, it proposes recommendations: the development process should consciously strengthen top-level design for inter-regional collaboration, use major demonstration projects to catalyze synergistic regional solid waste disposal, fully promote information sharing and digital empowerment for cross-regional solid waste governance, continuously refine long-term coordination mechanisms both within and across regions, and construct a market-based system for cross-regional waste transfer and trading.