Don't throw anything out of a balcony or window, and that includes cigarette butts, garbage bags and bottles

Cost

Free, and it takes no time. Put cigarette butts, garbage bags and bottles in the trash can inside, and don't throw them out of the window or off the balcony.

What you get

Throwing things down from a building or other height, as long as there is a danger of injuring someone, damaging property or endangering public safety, can bring detention of up to 5 days (拘留) or a fine of up to 1,000 CNY. In serious cases, detention of 10 to 15 days, and a further fine of up to 1,000 CNY. When the circumstances are serious enough to be the crime of throwing objects from a height (高空抛物罪), the sentence is up to 1 year, with a fine in addition or a fine alone (a fine on top of the sentence, or possibly a fine only). If someone is injured or killed, a heavier charge applies. Official cases: Li Mochen (李某晨), on the 21st floor after drinking, threw empty bottles and glasses down onto a playground, hit a 13-year-old student and caused a level-2 serious injury, and was sentenced to 10 years for the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means (以危险方法危害公共安全罪). Zhou Mou (周某) threw 8 bricks from the 32nd floor into a crowd and killed 1 person, and in 2024 the Supreme People's Court approved the death sentence (China)

Notes

You can be detained even if no one is hit, because the provision requires only "a danger." The Civil Code (民法典) has a separate civil compensation provision on throwing objects from a height (Article 1254). When this section was written the original could not be opened, so it is not quoted.

Evidence grade

A : Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.

Sources

1. National People's Congress Standing Committee (2025). Public Security Administration Punishments Law [in Chinese] (2025 revision, Article 43). https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml
2. National People's Congress Standing Committee (2020). Amendment XI to the Criminal Law [in Chinese] (Article 33, i.e., Article 291-2 of the Criminal Law). https://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/202012/t20201227_503682.shtml
3. National People's Congress (2020). Criminal Law [in Chinese] (as amended by Amendment XI, Article 291-2). https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html
4. Supreme People's Court (2024). Typical Cases of Punishing Crimes Endangering Public Safety in Accordance with the Law [in Chinese] (Case 1). https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/429522.html
5. Supreme People's Court (2025). Exclusive Interview with Li Yong, Vice President of the Supreme People's Court: Making Sure Everyone Who Throws Objects from Heights Is Punished [in Chinese]. https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/458381.html

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 9, tip 9. This section describes legal rules, mostly mainland China’s. It is general information, not legal advice; for your own case, talk to a lawyer. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer