
HANGZHOU, July 16 -- Chinese payment giant Alipay has rolled out a mini-program to help sort garbage by using artificial intelligence and augmented reality technologies.
Users can learn how to sort their trash by scanning waste items with their smartphones, which only takes seconds to know which category a waste item belongs to.
Over 3 million people have tried the new function since its beta test phase in early July. The program has indexed more than 4,000 different types of waste to date.
Shrimp shells, facial masks, sunflower seed shells and medical cotton swabs were among the top 10 most searched items, according to Alipay.
In 2017, the Chinese government set a goal that the country should realize a utilization rate of 35 percent in household garbage recycling by 2020, and 46 Chinese cities should take the lead in implementing mandatory classification of residential waste.
As a pioneer in garbage sorting, Shanghai put into effect a set of compulsory regulations earlier this month.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses