************************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Emily LAU and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva CHENG, in the Legislative Council today (January 30):
Question
Since 2005, the Housing Department has implemented the Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste by placing sets of three waste separation bins in all public housing estates ("PHEs") to facilitate the separate disposal of waste paper, plastic bottles and aluminium cans by residents. However, some residents have pointed out that the waste separation bins are not placed at each floor of the housing blocks in some PHEs, hence lowering the rate of separate recovery of domestic waste and the effectiveness of the Programme. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the percentage of PHEs in which waste separation bins are placed at each floor of their housing blocks among all the PHEs;
(b) of the current rate of separate recovery of domestic waste in PHEs and the effectiveness of the Programme; and
(c) whether it will place waste separation bins at each floor of the housing blocks in all PHEs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Madam President,
Since 2005, the Housing Department (HD) has implemented the Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste in public rental housing (PRH) estates. Under the Programme, waste separation and recovery facilities or services are provided on all floors of PRH blocks to facilitate tenants to separate waste at source and increase the types of recyclables to be recovered. The HD has, in consultation with the Estate Management Advisory Committees and taking into account the specific circumstances and management needs of individual PRH estates, devised waste separation and recovery arrangements that are most effective and convenient to the tenants, including providing waste separation bins, setting up waste separation areas, installing wall-mounted recycling racks, using refuse bins with compartments for different types of wastes, and arranging for the collection of specified types of waste on specified days of the week or specified times of the day. The Programme has achieved remarkable success since its introduction. The waste recovery volume in PRH estates has been on the rise while the refuse load has been decreasing.
My reply to the three-part question is as follows:
(a) Since the introduction of the Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste, 90 PRH estates have joined, accounting for nearly 60% of the total number of PRH estates in the territory. Among them, 52 PRH estates have waste separation bins on every floor, accounting for about 60% of the participating estates.
(b) The Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste has achieved notable success since its introduction in 2005. The domestic waste recovery volume and the refuse load in the past 3 years are as follows:
2005/06 2006/07 The first half of 2007/08
(as at Sept 2007)
Monthly average
waste recovery
volume
Waste 845.11tonnes 1,085.43tonnes 1,244.42tonnes
paper (up 28.44%) (up14.65%)
Aluminium 10.72tonnes 22.31tonnes 23.23tonnes
cans (up 108.12%) (up 4.12%)
Plastic 16.65tonnes 41.94tonnes 61.08tonnes
bottles (up 151.89%) (up 45.64%)
Refuse load 0.7373 kg 0.7355 kg 0.7179 kg
(daily (down 0.24%) (down 2.39%)
average
per person)
(c) Every year, 30 more PRH estates will join the Programme. It is expected that the Programme will be extended to cover all PRH estates in the territory by 2012, when every floor in every PRH estate will be provided with waste separation and recovery facilities or services. During the implementation of the Programme, the HD will continue to take into account the actual circumstances and management needs of individual PRH estates as well as the tenantsˇ¦ views, in order to devise suitable recovery arrangements and provide suitable waste recovery facilities, including the provision of recovery bins on all floors. The HD will review the effectiveness of the Programme regularly.
Ends/Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:36
NNNN
