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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
Question:
It has been reported that the computer trade, with the support of the Environmental Protection Department, launched a territory-wide computer recycling programme in January this year. The target of the programme was to recover 50 000 items of computer equipment annually in the first two years of implementation. Almost half a year has lapsed since the programme was launched, but only about 10 000 items of computer equipment have been recovered, with merely some 250 items can be refurbished for subsequent donation, which have fallen far short of the target. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it will assist the computer trade in improving the recovery of computer equipment, including providing additional collection points and stepping up publicity efforts; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) whether it knows the respective numbers of computer equipment recovered and disposed of at landfills in each of the past three years, as well as the numbers hitherto this year; and
(c) given that the above recycling programme depends on the voluntary recovery of computer equipment by the trade, whether the authorities will consider making, through legislation, the recovery of computer equipment by the trade mandatory, if the result of the programme is still not satisfactory after it has been implemented for one year; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
The Computer Recycling Programme (CRP) is a territory-wide recycling initiative jointly funded and organised by 20 major computer manufacturers and suppliers with the full support of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). It is the second voluntary producer responsibility scheme (PRS) after the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programme. Moreover, members of the trade have formed the Hong Kong Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling Association (the Association) to manage and promote the CRP.
Our reply to the questions raised by the Honourable Member is as follows:
(a) Since the launch of the CRP in January this year, the EPD has been maintaining close liaison with the Association with a view to achieving the CRP's objective of recovering used computer equipment in an environmentally sound manner. Through the assistance and promotional efforts of the EPD, a total of 630 residential estates as well as industrial and commercial buildings from 18 districts across the territory have signed up for the CRP. The CRP contractor will provide collection service for the participating estates and buildings according to a district collection schedule. Members of the public may also bring their used computer equipment to 15 designated public collection points in the territory, including the offices and the Environment Resources Centre of the EPD. Furthermore, the EPD has been making use of video broadcasting on buses to disseminate green messages on the use of computer from time to time, and will make use of this channel to promote the CRP as well.
To provide more convenient channels to encourage the public to recycle waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), the EPD has been providing a mobile collection service since March 2008. A mobile collection vehicle will be stationed at designated locations in 18 districts on Saturdays and Sundays according to a district roster to collect used computers and other used electrical equipment from the public. Used computers collected will be transferred to the CRP for recycling. Exhibition panels will also be displayed at the designated locations to promote green messages and public participation in WEEE recycling. The EPD will make use of advertisements in district newspapers and promotional posters to encourage the public to use the service. Earlier on, the Environment and Conservation Fund has agreed to support a Green Rural Waste Reduction Scheme to promote the recovery of used computer and electrical equipment for recycling in rural areas, and the computer equipment collected through the Scheme will be transferred to the CRP. The Scheme will be implemented shortly.
The EPD will continue to collaborate with the Association in promoting the CRP.
(b) According to survey estimates, the quantities of WEEE recovered and disposed of at landfills over the past three years are set out below:
Year 2005 2006 2007*
Recovery (tonnes) 53,000 58,000 59,000
Disposal (tonnes) 14,000 11,000 11,000
* Figures for 2008 are not yet available
In other words, about 80% of WEEE generated would be recovered, while landfill disposal of WEEE accounted for only about 0.3% to 0.4% of the total municipal solid waste (MSW) disposed of at landfills. The EPD does not have detailed statistics on the recovery and disposal of used computer equipment.
(c) The Legislative Council has completed its scrutiny of the Product Eco-responsibility Bill (the Bill). The Bill aims to provide a legal basis for introducing PRS's for various products (including WEEE), with the environmental levy on plastic shopping bags being the first statutory PRS. We hope that the Bill will be passed in the current legislative session.
Meanwhile, the EPD has been discussing with the suppliers of various products on how to promote the recovery and recycling of the products. In this connection, we have successfully reached a consensus with the computer trade to launch the CRP. As the CRP has been launched for less than six months, its operation does have further room for improvement. The EPD will continue to work with the computer trade in promoting the CRP and review its effectiveness at suitable juncture. We will also, taking into account the views of the public and the trade, consider further amending the future Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance to provide for statutory PRS's applicable to individual products (including WEEE). The Administration will consult the relevant trade before introducing new statutory PRS's.
Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:31
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