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The Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), the Yan Oi Tong EcoPark Plastic Resources Recycling Centre, the Education Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department jointly launched the Reduce Your Waste and Recycle Your Plastics Campaign at Fung Kai Innovative School today (February 7).
The campaign aims at enhancing students' awareness of waste reduction and recycling, cultivating their green habits, and educating them about the proper way to recycle plastic waste. Students are being encouraged to take home the message of waste reduction and recycling and invite their family members to participate in recycling activities.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Mr Albert Lam, said, "To tackle the imminent waste problem facing Hong Kong, we have to adopt a multi-pronged approach with a basket of waste reduction and recycling measures and the development of modern waste treatment facilities."
Mr Lam said that waste reduction and separation at source remains the most effective way of dealing with the imminent waste problem. To further increase the recovery rate, members of the public should change their daily living habits by separating waste at source, hence substantially allowing waste to return to the production line for the reuse of materials.
He added that schools have all along been important partners of the Government in promoting environmental education. He thanked the participating schools for their support for the campaign.
More than 100 primary and secondary schools have enrolled in the Reduce Your Waste and Recycle Your Plastics Campaign so far. Each participating school will set up a waste recycling corner and will be provided with a specially designed recycling bin for the collection of waste plastic bottles. Student ambassadors will manage the recycling corner, where information on waste reduction, source separation and recycling will be displayed. The waste plastic bottles collected will be sent to the Yan Oi Tong EcoPark Plastic Resources Recycling Centre for treatment.
Meanwhile, an educational kit with a guidebook, videos and worksheets will be provided for the participating schools to promote the message of waste reduction and proper waste recycling. Other educational activities including a roving drama performance and site visits will also be organised.
Various awards including Best Participating School, Best Waste Reduction and Recycling Ambassador, Best Waste Recycling Corner Award and Promotion and Publicity Award will be presented to outstanding schools in the campaign before the end of this school year.
Other guests attending today's ceremony included the Vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of Yan Oi Tong, Mr Jacky Cheung; the Vice-chairman of the ECC, Professor Jonathan Wong; ECC Member Mr Hui Yung-chung; and members of the North District Council Ms Or Sin-yi and Mr Wong Wang-to.
The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre staged an interactive drama performance during the ceremony to show the audience the proper steps to recycle waste plastic bottles. These steps involve removing the caps, emptying and rinsing the bottles and removing the labels before placing the plastic bottles, caps and labels into plastic recycling bins.
Ends/Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:25
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