Living sustainably is no chore. Disposing litter properly is ritual. Having grown up in Sugar Land, Texas, a suburban area of Houston ranked the sixth cleanest city in the U.S in 2006, I have realized that forming networks and collaboration projects with "green" advocates is fairly simple. Hundreds of independent firms and even Fortune 500 companies gladly sponsor eco-friendly projects held around town, most residential areas have laws curbing litter, fines are expected for damaging property or purposely throwing trash around, and HOV lanes are constructed to encourage carpooling as an incentive to save money. However, China is a different story. Most tourists in Shanghai come to see the flashing lights illuminating both sides of the Huangpu River, they see a city full of nightlife and markets, along with the stunning skyscrapers of Lujiazui. What they seem to miss is a city of 24 million people, with most people lacking awareness about basic sustainable habits. Within your first step in Shanghai, you will discover a second definition of environmental awareness. You will learn that trash bins labeled "Recyclable" or "回收" mean the same as "Other Waste," or that the middle of a street curb is a communal waste bin. One striking issue here is the lack of a universal sign that advocates sustainability. In the States, common colors for recycling bins are blue or green. In China, most bins contain only trash, with the exception of some that are labeled "Recyclables," with no distinguishable sign or color that catches the human eye. When people do not distinguish the difference between a recycling bin, everything becomes a trash bin. Furthermore, the oil that comes with a thrown out, half-eaten slice of pizza can ruin an entire load of potentially recyclable materials. That is why Green Shanghai launched a systematic recycling program in the international dorms of East China Normal University last year as part of NYUSH's Green Shanghai sustainability initiative. Spreading local awareness is key to spreading general awareness. People learn and follow trails of success. Now that we are in Pudong, the opportunities to expand are endless. We are the role models here, so the green initiatives and campaigns that we promote will be mirrored by the schools and communities around us. Some call us “tree huggers.” Some call us “greenies.” But to me, being “green” is not about trying to save every tree on the planet, but rather spreading awareness and motivating others to change their habits. Knowing that each individual contribution adds up and makes a difference can drive people to act responsibly. We just need to know where to begin. That beginning is here, on Century Avenue. To learn more about our initiatives, visit our Facebook page & join Green Shanghai on OrgSync! This article was written by Mike Chen. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Green Shanghai