ABSTRACT
Since the mid-2000s, major metropolitan cities in China, such as Beijing and Guangzhou, have experienced environmental protests against the building of incinerators. In response to conflicts between local residents and government authorities, environmental NGOs have sought alternative solutions for municipal solid waste generation in cities. This chapter presents a case study of the Zero Waste Alliance (ZWA), a nationwide platform for dialogue and cooperation between local governments, enterprises, scholars, the public, and NGOs formed by a group of environmentalists, professionals, and the general public. The chapter explores how the ZWA strategically framed municipal waste issues through a citizen science approach within an authoritarian political context. Collecting scientific data from the general public and other environmental groups has produced more local knowledge which supports the public interest. Moreover, the work of the ZWA through litigation and policy advocacy has highlighted the problems of municipal waste management in society. Such non-confrontational but impactful approaches have provided an alternative form of environmental activism within the oppressive political environment in China.
