The Practical Experience of “Zero Waste City” Construction in Foshan City Condenses the Chinese Solution to the Sustainable Development Goals

The article explores the "Zero Waste City" (ZWC) model as an urban development strategy aimed at minimizing environmental impacts from solid waste, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using Foshan City—a pilot city for the ZWC project—as a case study, the paper analyzes how the ZWC's initiatives correlate with sustainable urban development and the SDGs. The study particularly highlights the consistency between Foshan's ZWC index system and SDG objectives like solid waste management, resource utilization, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

The paper details Foshan's approach to developing its ZWC through dual pathways: restructuring its industrial sector to reduce waste generation across various sectors (industrial, domestic, agricultural, and hazardous waste) and enhancing its institutional, technical, and regulatory frameworks. This structured approach helps integrate solid waste management with broader economic and social development goals, promoting source reduction, resource recycling, and the safe disposal of waste.

The research concludes that while Foshan's initiatives align with ZWC and SDG concepts, challenges remain, such as the precise measurement of solid waste and cross-departmental coordination. Future enhancements could include incorporating biodiversity and rural ecology into the ZWC framework to broaden the scope of sustainable urban development.