Program helps kids to turn trash into pencils, soccer balls

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Zadoi county, whose economy depends on raising livestock, has an area of 30,000 square kilometers and an average altitude of 4,200 meters. It has a total population of 66,000, with more than 10,000 students registered in primary and middle schools.

Students have embraced the program since it started, according to Karma Chonyi, a teacher who is in charge of the program from the Second Middle School.

Every noon, Karma Chonyi shows up at a special office for the program to count the students' gains and reward them accordingly.

The collected waste is disposed of by categories, with the help of local dump-managing staffers.