A new round of garbage classification campaign is carrying out in China. Using Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) Data in 2013, the study focuses on the influence mechanism of social capital on garbage classification in China and the difference between urban and rural areas. Descriptive analysis, Ordered Logit model and “Coefficient clustering method” were used in this study. The results show that social capital (online social capital, social network, social trust) can effectively promote garbage classification after controlling the relevant individual characteristic variables in China. China’s garbage classification is embedded in the Chinese social environment. Further analyzing the marginal effect of social capital found that online social capital has the large marginal effect. The effect of social network is greater than the influence effect of social trust. But the marginal effect of social trust is higher than the marginal effect of social network. And social trust has the largest marginal effect. This not only makes up for the previous literature’s neglect of online social capital, marginal effect, but also illustrates the importance of online social capital. And it proves the interaction between traditional Chinese social network and modern social trust. In addition, the influence of social capital on urban and rural garbage classification is heterogeneous in China. Both social trust and social network have influence on the urban classification garbage. However, only social network have a significant influence in rural areas, and social trust has not played a role. China’s garbage classification should focus on social factors, that is, the influence of social capital. It is necessary to follow the coupling between the top-down logic of government and the bottom-up logic of society, and realize the nationwide participation. It is of great significance for promoting the sustainable development of China and the sustainable development of the world.