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Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Leung and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (January 13):
Question:
It has been reported earlier that a person in Hong Kong generates on average half kilogram of food waste each day, which is more than that in Singapore, Korea and Taiwan. Moreover, Hong Kong needs to dispose of 3,310 tons of food waste each day, putting immense pressure on landfills. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) apart from the plan to develop the Siu Ho Wan Organic Waste Treatment and Recovery Facility in North Lantau Island, whether the Government has formulated other new policies and measures to tackle the current problem of a large amount of food waste being generated each day;
(b) given that the technologies of handling food waste being developed by the environmental industry and the Hong Kong Productivity Council respectively are maturing each day, whether the Government will consider adopting the technologies concerned, and conduct promotional activities in various public housing estates and shopping centres; and
(c) whether it will strengthen the education policy or organise more activities to educate the public to treasure food, so as to alleviate the problem of food waste?
Reply:
President,
(a) At present, some 2,995 tonnes of food waste are disposed of at landfills each day. The figure shows a decrease compared with 3,300 tonnes in 2007. Of this, about 70% are originated from households whilst the other 30% are originated from commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. To tackle the food waste problem effectively, a multi-pronged approach should be adopted. For example, the awareness of the public and the business sectors about food waste avoidance and reduction is raised through education and publicity. Apart from this, the Government is actively planning the development of a modern Organic Waste Treatment Facility (OWTF) at Siu Ho Wan of North Lantau for food waste treatment. By employing biological treatment technology, source-separated food waste could be turned into useful resources including compost and biogas. This OWTF, which could handle about 200 tonnes of food waste everyday, is expected to be commissioned by 2013/14.
To tackle the issue of food waste recycling in Hong Kong, apart from developing the OWTF, we have to work with the C&I sectors. We have introduced a Food Waste Recycling Partnership Scheme with the C&I sectors to promote good food waste management practices. We will jointly produce a Code of Practice on the Management of Food Waste with C&I sectors to assist them in avoiding and reducing food waste, and to separate food waste at source. The experience of the participants joining the Scheme on food waste separation and management will be consolidated as guidelines for dissemination to the C&I sectors through channels such as internet, pamphlets, workshops and seminars.
(b) Currently, there are different types of food waste treatment equipment with various sizes available in the market for food waste reduction or conversion into soil conditioner. The Government welcomes the installation of these food waste treatment equipment by the private sector to reduce food waste disposal. Since 2006, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, with the Environment Bureau as co-organiser, has held the Eco Expo Asia annually in which international exhibitors would show their environmental technologies and products, including food waste treatment equipment, to the public. The Eco Expo Asia provides opportunities to the local C&I sectors and individual organisations to understand and acquire the latest food waste treatment equipment. The Government is prepared to provide technical advice to C&I sectors interested in using such equipment, such as experience on source separation of food waste and the requirements of relevant environmental legislations. Moreover, through the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), the Government has supported the procurement and installation of food waste treatment equipment by schools and charitable organisations. From 2008 to now, about 30 organisations have been approved with funding support from the ECF to procure some 40 food waste treatment equipment.
(c) To encourage participation of the public in protecting the environment and reducing food waste, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has, over the years, been carrying out various education and publicity activities such as exhibitions and workshops. For example, a series of workshops for the restaurant trade were held between May and July 2009 in which speakers from the trade associations and related organisations shared their successful experience with their fellow members in implementing environmental management and green practices.
The EPD also makes use of the ECF to support public education and promotion programmes for food waste reduction. For example, in 2008, the ECF supported the Greeners Action to organise the "Save Food Day" activities to promote good eating culture and habit, and to encourage the public to reduce the portion of their food should they wish to eat less so as to avoid food wastage. In 2009, the ECF supported the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden to conduct the project titled "Waste To Food – Community Trial Project of Kitchen Waste Recovery with Vermi-composting". The project would produce 60 vermi-composting boxes for testing vermin-composting at the community level so as to educate the public on the benefits of recycling of food waste.
On further reduction of food waste and disposable lunch boxes, as mentioned in the Policy Address, the Environment Bureau and Education Bureau would invite all schools to sign a Green Lunch Charter this year. This is to encourage schools stop using disposable containers and adopt the central portioning approach where possible, so as to reduce food waste and protect the environment. The ECF has reserved $50 million to support existing schools to conduct retrofitting works and install facilities necessary for implementing "on-site meal portioning". Each school will be subsidised for the actual expenditure incurred. We have now already started receiving applications for such subsidies. Apart from this, new school premises would be designed to facilitate the implementation of "on-site meal portioning" at school.
We will continue our education and promotion programmes so as to encourage the public and the related trades to reduce food waste, to understand the importance of food waste reduction, and to encourage change in life style and keeping of good environmental habits.
Ends/Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:50
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