Qian Linsheng, 34, a migrant from the central province of

Qian Linsheng, 34, a migrant from the central province of Henan, set up this recycling plant the size one-third of a football field with his brother-in-law Liu Tongjun, 44, five years ago. They work from early in the morning till after well after nightfall collecting plastic bottles, oil cartons, glass bottles, old clothes and wires rag and bone men from around the vast swarths of northern Beijing bring them. Here Mr Qian is hauling a pile of sacks into his yard. He said: “It’s dirty, tiring work. I know this stuff gets made into other things anew. But I don’t think so much. We’re only collecting the trash and make a living doing it.” See this story by @chiyin_sim and other stories on the theme of "beginnings" on the new @nytimes feed which launched this week. #nytbeginnings @viiphoto#China