In China, 回收 (huíshōu) is a concept deeply embedded in both the economy and daily life, though its manifestation differs from many Western countries. For decades, recycling wasn't primarily a top-down, government-led environmental initiative, but a grassroots, economic one. You would commonly see elderly “aunties” (阿姨, āyí) and “uncles” (叔叔, shūshu) collecting cardboard, plastic bottles, and scrap metal from neighborhoods to sell to local recycling depots. This informal economy is a visible and crucial part of the 回收 ecosystem. This contrasts with the often more formalized, municipally-run “blue bin” systems in North America or Europe, where recycling is seen more as a civic duty. However, in recent years, China has been undergoing a massive cultural shift. Major cities like Shanghai and Beijing have implemented strict mandatory trash sorting laws (垃圾分类, lājī fēnlèi), pushing the concept of 回收 into the formal, government-regulated sphere. This reflects a growing national consciousness around environmental protection (环保, huánbǎo), moving the value of 回收 from a purely economic incentive to a shared social responsibility.
回收 (huíshōu) is a highly practical and common word used across various modern contexts.
The connotation is generally neutral and technical. It describes a process rather than expressing a strong emotion. It's used in both formal announcements and everyday conversation.