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About 200 representatives from the catering industry, hotels, property management, commercial and industrial organisations, academia and government departments attended a food waste recycling sharing session held by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) at the Hong Kong Central Library today (February 3).
A spokesman for the EPD noted that the response at the session was enthusiastic. Participants of the Food Waste Recycling Partnership Scheme discussed and shared their experiences in source separation and reduction of food waste, as well as the use of various food waste treatment and recycling machines. To encourage and promote among the trades a good management culture to reduce food waste, the EPD formed a working group with the commercial and industrial sectors and Greeners Action in launching the Food Waste Recycling Partnership Scheme in June 2010.
The Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Ms Anissa Wong, gave an opening speech at the session. She introduced the various efforts of the Government to reduce food waste, including public education and publicity, noting that unavoidable food waste would be recycled as far as possible and properly treated with modern facilities. Ms Wong presented recognition certificates to representatives of organisations taking part in the Scheme to commend their contributions and efforts in good food waste management. She said she hoped that the valuable experience shared in the session would encourage more organisations to adopt good food waste management practices.
The Partnership Scheme has achieved encouraging results. So far, the EPD has provided training on source separation of food waste for more than 50 participating organisations. Some 600 tonnes of food waste have been collected by the EPD for recycling at its pilot composting plant in Kowloon Bay and about 120 tonnes of compost products have been made for use at local farms and schools.
The experience of the participants in the first stage of the Food Waste Recycling Partnership Scheme has been summarised as guidelines and is available on the EPD's website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/prob_solutions/files/FW_General_Guidelines_Rest_eng.pdf) for public reference. In addition, pamphlets and posters have been produced and talks and visits for the trades will be held to promote good food waste management practices in the commercial and industrial sectors.
During the sharing session, representatives from the Peninsula Hotel, the apm shopping mall and Lucky Market gave an account of environmental and company benefits in implementing food waste source separation, as well as the solutions and difficulties encountered.
The results of the first stage of the Food Waste Recycling Projects in Housing Estates programme under the Environment and Conservation Fund launched in July last year were also shared in the session. A representative of the Hong Kong Productivity Council shared experience in providing technical support for the programme, and representatives of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Housing Department told the audience about their experience in using food waste recycling machines in their facilities. The valuable experience could help other organisations and groups to have a better understanding of the different options in dealing with the food waste problem.
The EPD is continuing to work on guidelines for different trades so as to encourage more industrial and commercial establishments to adopt food waste recycling. This will help the trades to prepare for the opening of the Siu Ho Wan Organic Waste Treatment Facilities in 2014.
Ends/Friday, February 3, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:46
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