Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's hard to make humorous shows without exposing some group to ridicule. While males are of course an acceptable target, but then the show looks too "PC". So in order to show that we're totally cool and not PC, a safe target is needed.
Actually, I am OK with certain stereotyping, because that is how comedy works. However, burning trash is not remotely funny and not true anymore, it is not representative at all. In that case, it is not even a good stereotype, it just lazy thinking & writing because they don't bother to understand what it is like to be an Asian nerd.
Landfills currently handle roughly half of China's MSW, while only about 10% is incinerated. Official credo suggests that landfills will continue to play a dominant role. But Beijing's push to increase the share of burned waste is unmistakable: a central target calls for 30% of MSW to be treated by waste-to-energy incineration by 2030.
And late last year they opened the worlds biggest incinerator outside Beijing[1].
In the article[0], it says only 2% was burned in 1990.. so it seems this is a new initiative.
0. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/04/dirty-tru...
1. http://shanghaiist.com/2014/10/08/worlds-biggest-trash-incin...