A new WeChat account now allows Shanghai residents to report environmental violations. The newly-created WeChat account – called “12369 Environmental Protection tip-off” – enables those living in Shanghai to use WeChat to tip off the authorities about environmental law infractions, Shine reports.
Before this, the Environmental Protection Bureau operated solely through the 12369 hotline. The hope is that the new WeChat account will increase the number of tips.
Anyone who has information is also urged to share photos and videos of the illegal activities, which include things such as improper waste discharge, illegal hazardous substance disposal and unauthorized construction. Good tips can receive rewards of anywhere between RMB500 and RMB50,000 depending on the severity of the case. Last year, the cap for rewards was RMB10,000, so this is a major raise in reward money.
READ MORE: Shanghai Introduces New Air Pollution Alert System
Although the WeChat account is only available in Chinese, the environmental protection hotline 12369 offers English service from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm. It has proven to be very useful in the past, as it received 32,000 calls in 2017.
A total of RMB190 million in fines has been collected this year alone for environmental infractions, mostly regarding air and solid waste pollution.
[Image via Flickr]
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