A recent cleanup event was held to gather volunteers to collect trash together on the beach of Qingbang Island, Zhejiang province. CHINA DAILY

Far out in the East China Sea, Qingbang Island — part of the easternmost permanently inhabited archipelago off China's mainland in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province — is becoming a model for sustainable living.

Despite covering just 1.41 square kilometers, the island is experimenting with an innovative recycling system. Residents sort their household waste and exchange it for vouchers that can be used at local stores or redeemed for cash at the end of the year.

Food scraps will be fermented into organic fertilizer for growing vegetables and flowers, while recyclable plastics are collected by a Shanghai clothing company and transformed into garments, shoes, and hats sold on the island.

The voucher program has been running for three years, driven by the vision of Yan Shanyue, a former seaman who is determined to turn Qingbang into a zero-waste island.

Why vouchers? Yan explains. Selling recyclables directly typically earns only 20 or 30 yuan at a time — an amount that easily disappears among everyday expenses.

"But with a voucher, you can clearly see that it came from the waste you collected."

To keep motivation high, Yan also hosts an annual year-end meeting where active recyclers receive daily necessities like rice and cooking oil.

"That way," he adds, "people have one more thing to look forward to."

Yan grew up on Xiazhi Island, more than 60 kilometers from Qingbang, and many of his happiest childhood memories were shaped by the sea.

"Every morning around six or seven, after breakfast, my friends and I would head to the beach," recalls the 55-year-old.

"At high tide, we swam and challenged each other to jump higher or hold our breath longer. At low tide, we dug for clams and razor clams and carried home baskets full of them."

At the time, plastic waste was rarely seen on local shores. Occasionally, they would find a bottle with Japanese writing that had drifted across the sea.

In fact, Yan even had his first taste of instant noodles at age 7 after discovering a Japanese packet washed ashore following a typhoon, which he shared with three friends.

When he returned home in 2003 after leaving a career in deep-sea fishing, he was shocked to find beaches increasingly covered with rubbish, especially marine debris. Determined to help, he began cleaning the shoreline on his own.

In 2013, Yan moved to Qingbang Island to open a guesthouse. He continued his beach-cleaning routine, and before long, other guesthouse owners joined him. Together, they discovered that just a few people could restore a small beach to its natural beauty within hours.

"Sometimes I think to myself that we really do have the power to make a difference," he says.

Encouraged by the results, Yan and his growing team began inviting volunteers from outside the island, offering affordable food and accommodation to support cleanup efforts. Through these activities, he connected with professionals from marine conservation organizations, inspiring him to establish his own environmental charity dedicated to creating a "zero-waste island".

He and his partners then mobilized local shop owners to sign a "zero-waste island partnership" agreement.

Driving a small tricycle, he collected cardboard, aluminum cans, and plastic waste while visiting households to encourage recycling and proper waste sorting.

"What gives me the greatest sense of achievement is that the islanders' trust in me is growing," Yan says.

The journey also pushed Yan to develop new skills. He learned how to write project proposals, create PowerPoint presentations, prepare budgets, and organize events ranging from waste surveys to community education programs and environmental improvement projects. He continues to seek partnerships with companies and environmental foundations to expand the initiative.

Yet, the challenge remains relentless. Every storm washes new debris onto the island's beaches. A shoreline cleaned by evening may be covered with trash again the following morning, creating what often feels like an endless cycle.

To cope with this frustration, Yan draws inspiration from a powerful memory from his years at sea. At age 16, he survived a fierce storm in which waves battered his fishing vessel for more than 50 hours. Crew members worked nonstop, bailing water while pumps ran continuously. The helmsman fought to keep the boat aligned with the waves, knowing that even a slight mistake could prove fatal.

Eventually, the storm passed.

"We couldn't control the environment back then," Yan says.

"We had no idea when the next wave would hit or when the boat might capsize. But we had no choice but to keep bailing the water out."

Decades at sea taught him a lesson he still follows today: while people cannot calm the wind and waves, persistence can keep a ship afloat — and help preserve the blue waters surrounding an island.