Zhao Wenguang sees his job as contributing to the Expo, Yu Ran reports.
For Zhao Wenguang, collecting recyclable waste around Shanghai every day is also a way to work towards the Expo theme of "Better City, Better Life".
"Riding around and collecting recyclable waste before and during the Expo for me is special as I know that I'm working not only for myself but also as a way to welcome tourists from all over the world with a cleaner environment," Zhao, 44, said proudly.
Zhao came to Shanghai five years ago with a group of migrant workers looking for better jobs with higher salaries because he needed money to send his son and daughter to school.
"I am a rubbish collector who recycles rubbish. I work more than 10 hours a day and can earn at least 50 yuan," Zhao said.
Zhao has to get up around 5 am and spends his day riding around on his tricycle collecting plastic bottles, cardboard and other recyclable material. He normally finishes his work by 8 pm or 9 pm. He has more than 10 regular customers, such as companies and small-sized stores, which he passes by daily to collect material. This accounts for about 50 per cent of his daily collection. The rest he collects by cycling around ringing his bicycle bell so people know that he is coming and what his job is.
Zhao collects many types of recyclables, including cardboard, plastic, iron and copper. He also collects discarded television sets, refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines. By the end of the day, he sells the collected waste to a local waste recycle station.
"Take cardboard as an example, I buy it from others at a price of 0.2 yuan per catty and sell at 0.35 yuan so that I can earn 0.15 yuan from a catty," said Zhao, adding that he could made about 30 yuan from one tricycle load of cardboard.
Zhao knows that his job with its regular earnings not only benefits his family, but also helps create a cleaner Shanghai.
"There is no doubt that collecting this stuff improves the environment, which is a very essential to our country and city. I want to make it a lifelong job, although it is not popular with the public," he said.
His daughter came to Shanghai last year and works as a sales assistant in a convenience store. His son, who entered university this month, spent the summer holidays in Shanghai.
He urged both his children to visit the Expo although he says he can not afford it.
"Unfortunately I couldn't afford paying the entrance fees for my daughter and son, but we can watch some of the events on television. I presume that what I'm doing now is also a way to contribute and participate in Expo," said Zhao.
(China Daily 09/10/2010)
