April 22nd marks World Earth Day. Events are being held worldwide to increase awareness of our natural environment. China has been an active participant in the event ever since 1990. In Beijing, this year also marks the second anniversary of Beijing's Waste Reduction Day.

Students and teachers place used plastic bottles on the ground to form the shape of trees on the earth ahead of World Earth Day on April 22, at an elementary school in Jinjiang, East China's Fujian province, April 20, 2012.

The efforts on waste classification and recycling have yielded results, as Beijing's domestic waste amount was reduced by 5.2 percent in 2011 compared to 2009. In 2011, Beijing's domestic waste had reached over 6 million tons, with kitchen waste accountable for 60 percent.