Since Shanghai residents were required by law to sort household garbage starting July 1, wet waste processors, which can break down leftovers and dump them out of sewers, have become popular and installers of those processors have been especially needed.

(Photos: VCG)

Garbage disposal is not a new thing. Due to the high price, buyers of garbage processors were mostly middle class and residents of high-grade residential quarters.

"The installation volume in Shanghai in the last two days has exceeded the usual one month,” said Mr. Fu, a manager of Becbas, who is in charge of after-sales service. 

He also revealed that the popularity of kitchen waste disposal had resulted in the shortage of installers. In the past, ordinary appointments can be completed the same day. Now, the consumers have to wait a week for installation. It is possible to earn more than 10,000 yuan (about 1,450 US dollars). 

Data from e-commerce portal Taobao indicates that sales of kitchen waste disposals have increased by 363% over the past seven days. Demand for installers outstripped supply so relevant companies have to expedite recruitment.

The waste disposals of InSinkErator, an American brand, have also been sold out that the general manager in China contacted the headquarters for replenishments.

In the past few years, the food waste disposal industry had developed slowly. At present, with the upgrade of consumption and the implementation of the strictest waste classification regulation, the industry is expected to enter the fast lane of development and gradually into the lives of more and more people. InSinkErator entered the Chinese market in 1996 and Tmall in 2011. In the past three or four years, it has maintained a high-speed growth and sales doubled last year.

Garbage classification led to the popularity of installing kitchen waste disposals, which not only brings convenience to people, but also has an unknown impact on the sewer network system and sewage treatment. 

Previously, cities such as Shanghai and Beijing have voiced their disapproval of using garbage processors to smash wet waste directly into sewers. 

In response to this hidden danger, personnel of the related industry said that reasonable and efficient waste treatment has driven the sales of the category. Currently, many brands are actively laying out the garbage processor production line and supply chain.

(Compiled by Lu Yuchen)