China is home to a thriving private market for recyclables. Collectors and dealers of recyclables from cardboard boxes to laptops are often seen cruising down streets and alleyways on electric tricycles to collect recyclables from residents in the neighborhood.
It was one of these dealers that a resident, surnamed Zhao, of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, called when he wanted to replace his seven-year-old air conditioner with a more energy-efficient one. However, after inspecting the old unit, the dealer not only offered a price far lower than expected, but also charged a fee for carrying it away, Zhao told The Economic Observer newspaper.
Residents like Zhao are expected to soon
