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The Government announced today (September 11) seven major initiatives to enhance the prevention, separation and recycling of domestic waste in Hong Kong. This includes the injection of $100 million into the Environment and Conservation Fund and making available long term land to set up a Recovery Park.
Speaking at a press conference, the Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam, said these new initiatives were put forward following the early completion of a review of the implementation of the 1998 Waste Reduction Framework Plan (WRFP).
The review found that although Hong Kong's overall waste recycling rate had gone up from 32 percent in 1998 to 34 percent in 2000, much more work has to be done, especially on the prevention and recovery of domestic waste to help us better manage and contain the increasingly serious waste problem in Hong Kong.
The seven major initiatives are:-
* Setting up a 20-hectare Recovery Park at Tuen Mun Area 38 by early 2004
* Planned injection of $100 million into the Environment and Conservation Fund
* Enhancing collection of separated waste and adding 8,000 newly designed separation bins
* Introduction of a helpline on recycling
* Enhancing public education and community work
* Government setting examples on waste reduction
* Reinforcing producer responsibility scheme
In announcing these initiatives, Mrs Yam said: "The Government recognises that the processing of recovered materials for recycling need space."
"We have identified 20 hectares of industrial land at Tuen Mun Area 38 for the setting up of a Recovery Park and would go through the necessary procedures to secure this for exclusive use by the recycling industry.
"This piece of land has an area bigger than the Victoria Park and can be accessed by sea to facilitate easy loading and unloading of materials. We expect the first phase of the Park to start operation in early 2004."
To enhance waste prevention and recovery work, Mrs Yam said: "Subject to the approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, we plan to inject $100 million into the Environment and Conservation Fund, largely for supporting community-based waste prevention and recovery programmes. It is open to application by district organizations, green groups, voluntary agencies, etc. to carry out waste prevention/recovery work and activities."
On waste separation facilities, Mrs Yam said that newly designed separation bins are now being manufactured.
"The number of waste separation bins, conveniently placed in strategic locations including public places, schools and housing estates, will be doubled from 8,000 to 16,000 in the coming year," she added.
To provide professional advice to the public on waste reduction and separation, a helpline (tel no 2755 2750) has been set up by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).
Also, in the coming months, the Government will launch an intensive public education and community involvement programme to increase public awareness in waste reduction and separation.
On the part of the Government, Mrs Yam said: "We would continue to take lead and set a better example in waste prevention and recovery. Particular emphasis will be made on reducing the overall consumption of paper and to phase out the use of non-recycled paper."
"In the coming year, the Government will formulate a procurement guideline that encourages waste prevention and recycling," Mrs Yam said.
In addition, the Government will continue to liaise with and encourage the business sector to take part in the producer responsibility schemes.
"We would like to study and try out special recycling schemes for products like batteries and computers, and we sincerely hope to work in partnership with producers and importers."
Mrs Yam stressed that Hong Kong is facing a serious waste problem which the community may not be aware of. The amount of waste generated continues to rise with increased population.
At present over 6.5 million tonnes of wastes are disposed of in landfills each year. The average increase in the overall volume of waste over the past five years is 3.5 per cent and domestic waste alone has an average annual increase of 4 per cent. This growth of domestic waste is much higher than the population growth of 0.9 per cent each year.
"Much greater public awareness of the problem and community participation in preventing and separating waste is required to help us better manage and contain the increasingly serious waste problem in Hong Kong," she added.
The Government will launch a multi-media publicity package from today. This includes the broadcast of new TV Announcements in Public Interest (APIs), a theme van on waste, a series of road shows, the mounting of posters throughout the territory and the distribution of publicity materials to schools and community organisations.
The highlight of these activities is the creation of a "Recycling Kid", a cartoon character, who will be spreading the waste reduction message to schools and housing estates.
At the same time, a number of community recycling projects will also be launched in the coming weeks.
For details, members of the public are welcome to visit the websites of the Environment and Food Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department.
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Following is the full list of initiatives on waste prevention and recycling:
Long-term land for waste recovery (Recovery Park)
- 20 hectares of industrial land in Tuen Mun Area 38, has been set aside for the setting up of a Recovery Park which is expected to start operation in early 2004.
- Eight pieces of land for the recycling industry has already been made available in the form of short-term tenancy. More short-term land will be identified for this purpose.
Injection into the Environmental and Conservation Fund
- Subject to approval from Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, the Environment and Conservation Fund will have an injection of $100 million to support community-based waste prevention and recovery programmes.
- The Fund is open to application by district groups, green groups etc. to carry out waste reduction work and activities.
Placing new separation bins and enhancing waste separation work
- Newly-designed separation bins will gradually hit the streets in the coming weeks.
- The number of waste separation bins, conveniently placed in strategic locations including public places, schools and housing estates, will be doubled from 8,000 to 16,000 as a result.
- Commercial buildings, private premises and owners incorporations are encouraged to put in place more waste separation bins.
- Collection services of recyclable materials will be enhanced.
Setting up of a recycling helpline
- A helpline (tel : 2755 2750) has been set up by EPD to provide advice and assistance on how private premises may facilitate waste separation and have access to such services.
Enhancing public education and community work
- A sustained public education and community involvement programme will be launched to ensure sustained participation of the public in waste prevention and recovery.
- Closer cooperation with district councils, green groups and community organizations in organizing large-scale community-based waste reduction and recycling projects.
Waste reduction work of Government departments
- The percentage of recycled papers used was up by 37 per cent from 1998 to 2000, and the paper consumption rate was substantially cut by 8 per cent from 1999 to 2000. Will continue to increase the use of recycled paper and reduce overall paper consumption.
- The Government will formulate a procurement guideline that encourages waste prevention and recycling.
- Suppliers have been asked to reduce packaging to the absolute minimum.
- Departments will use retreaded tyres in their heavy vehicle fleet wherever practicable and those involved in greening work will use compost produced from organic waste.
Producer responsibility schemes
- The Government, in partnership with the business sector, will actively examine trial programmes to recycle special wastes, such as glass bottles, batteries and computers.
End/Tuesday, September 11, 2001
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