Echo Hu/ Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai plans to include textbooks on physical education and art into its textbook recycling program at primary and middle schools starting this fall in addition to music materials.

The expansion is part of the city's effort to further promote its campaign to recycle books at primary and middle schools to reduce paper consumption. It was launched in the fall semester of 2006.

The government's coverage of textbook expenses from this spring semester is a boost for pushing forward the program, city officials said.

Students at more than 600 public secondary schools in the city began to use second-hand textbooks passed on by older students at music classes since the fall semester in 2006, while the books had to be collected and kept on campus after class.

Each book can be used for four to five years, officials said, adding that most students keep the books clean and tidy.

Textbooks for other courses will be recycled gradually except for Chinese, mathematics and English books because students usually take notes in them.