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A few years ago, collecting garbage was a bleak business for everyone involved. However, since trash sorting became an important practice in many parts of China, it is a promising sector.

Li Wanhai is a garbage collector for AiFenLei, a WeChat miniprogram engaged in online garbage collecting, sorting and recycling services.

Every day, the 57-year-old and three colleagues can receive around 40 online orders and collect 600 kilograms to 1 metric ton of waste from five large residential communities in Beijing's Changping district.

"The job is flexible and meaningful," said Li, who earns around 7,000 yuan ($1,000) per month.

AiFenLei employs 60 collectors, 60 supervisors, 30 sorters and 30 publicity officers, but when Li joined the company a year ago, after quitting his job as a driver for a ride-hailing company, there were just four collectors.

The ubiquity of smartphones provides great potential for incorporating waste sorting in the online world, and AiFenLei is one of a growing number of companies that have turned to online garbage disposal solutions.

"We are hiring more people involved in the industry to meet the growing demand," said Xu Yuanhong, the company's general manager.