Green, circular, and low-carbon development is China's mantra to achieve high-quality growth and Jieshou, an inland city in eastern Anhui province, is a national pilot for the circular economy.

Jieshou is using productive recycling, such as turning discarded plastic into scarves and renewing old batteries. It recycles over four million tons of waste annually, including old batteries, aluminum scraps, and plastics. It boasts a production capacity of 990,000 tons of recycled lead and manufactures over 100 million recycled power batteries per year.

Jieshou's high-tech zone houses 81 enterprises specializing in resource recycling, contributing to an industrial output of 33 billion RMB in 2023. This represented 74 percent of the city's total industrial output.

China's resource recycling industry is valued at 3.5 trillion RMB, with projections indicating it could reach 5 trillion RMB by 2025, according to official data. There is also a 26.8 percent reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP and a remarkable 35 percent decrease in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP.

Ji Kunsen, director of the Anhui Provincial Institute of Circular Economy, views the circular economy as an innovative approach to greater economic benefits, resource efficiency, environmental preservation, and employment opportunities. Ji said this strategy not only helps address current economic challenges but also stimulates investments and consumption.

China's new energy vehicle sector has been advancing rapidly, with predictions indicating an upcoming peak period for battery replacement. Chinese companies have explored a comprehensive model for battery recycling, material reutilization, and remanufacturing.

Zhao Chenxin, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, recently announced plans to establish 2,000 standardized recycling stations across major cities to enhance the recyclable resources retrieval network.

Technological innovation is a key driver in promoting resource recycling. New and advanced waste processing technologies have introduced a shift towards digitalization for enhanced capabilities.

The application of advanced technologies across the nation is cumulatively empowering a greener China.

By the end of April this year, the National Green Technology Trading Center had listed over 3,600 green technologies, leading to over 1,300 transactions totaling 3.1 billion RMB, with energy and water consumption in some key large and medium-sized enterprises reaching world-class efficiency levels.