Locals are becoming more environment-conscious as the citywide environmental protection education drive engages an increasing number of people to work for a "Green Community."

　　Co-sponsored by the Shanghai Environment Protection Bureau and Michelin, a France-based tire producer, the competition for the municipal level "Green Community" of 2003 has bestowed the honor on 13 residential communities from across the city.

　　Xu jianmin, Party secretary of the bureau, commended the series of activities, saying the city would carry on such cooperation with Michelin and make the contest a yearly event.

　　Besides clean sanitary conditions and striking greenery, these communities also boast residents with enhanced environment awareness. Taking care of the environment is a way of life for these residents.

　　"The most agreeable environment does not only mean an improvement in living conditions but also that people can enjoy free access to nature and keep a harmonious relationship with their surroundings," said a resident surnamed Ni of Hongchu residential quarter in Changning District, one of the honored communities.

　　On the gates of Hongchu is a big digital display, which provides environment information, such as the decibel level of sound and air quality measure in the surrounding areas. Just beside the display is a can for collecting expired batteries.

　　Residents voluntarily pick up public litter and take care of community plants during their spare time.

　　A woman surnamed Liu showers plants with used water which she stores in a bucket after rinsing her vegetables and rice every day. "It saves water and nourishes the plants as well," she said.

　　Lanhua teachers Apartment located in Yangpu District, another of the model communities, invites students of environmental science major at Tongji University to give lectures on residential waste disposal.

　　Recently michelin officials visited the community to recycle used batteries and medicine whose shelf-life was over. They collected more than 2,500 batteries and 1,800 boxes of medicine from 300 residents.