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"Love Food Waste Not" promotes environmental protection in community (with photos)
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     The Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) jointly held the "Love Food Waste Not" summit at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning (February 2), providing a platform for all sectors to share their experience in the promotion of environmental protection in the community. A Source Separation of Waste Award Presentation Ceremony was held in the afternoon. The event received an overwhelming response, with around 400 participants.

     To further encourage community participation and enhance environmental and resources conservation in Hong Kong, the EPD has embarked on a community participation programme in environmental protection alongside the Home Affairs Department (HAD), District Councils (DCs) and the ECC. Funding was granted by the EPD to each DC through the HAD to organise environmental programmes at district level. "Go Green on Waste Management ¡V Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is the theme of the programme in 2012. The summit today enabled participating organisations, members of the community and other stakeholders to share their insights and experience in organising community participation programmes on waste reduction.

     Officiating at the today's summit, the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, expressed his gratitude to all the DCs for their efforts in promoting and organising educational activities in environmental protection for the community.  

     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said in his welcoming remarks that the DCs play an important role in district matters, and the support and assistance of the DCs and the community enhance the effectiveness of various waste management measures implemented by the government.

     During the event, Mr Wong presented appreciation certificates to the best performing property management companies in the Competition on Source Separation of Waste to recognise their achievements in waste reduction and recycling over the past few years.

     Other guests attending today's summit were the Chairman of the ECC, Mr Lam Chiu-ying; the Permanent Secretary for the Environment/ Director of Environmental Protection, Ms Anissa Wong; the Deputy Director of Home Affairs, Ms Mimi Lee; the President of the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, Mr Alkin Kwong, and representatives of the 18 DCs. Other participants came from the DCs, local organisations, property management companies and government departments.

     At the three breakout sessions, participants shared their experience in organising community environmental activities and discussed the way forward for promoting waste reduction at source. Topics during the breakout sessions included Participation in Waste Reduction and Recycling at Community, Source Separation of Waste at Housing Estates and Commercial and Industrial Buildings, and Promotion of Food Waste Reduction, Donation and Recycling at Community. Panel representatives from the breakout sessions presented the outcomes of their discussions in the plenary session, followed by a sharing of insights by Mr Wong. Mr Lam in his closing remarks, appealed to all sectors to continue their support in community waste reduction programmes and indicated the ECC's commitment in continuing its work to foster public awareness of environmental protection through various promotion programmes.

     In addition, display panels on waste management in Hong Kong were set up at the venue to showcase current programmes on waste reduction and recycling.

     In the afternoon, representatives from property management companies, housing estates, and commercial and industrial buildings participated in the Source Separation of Waste Award Presentation Ceremony jointly organised by the EPD, the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies and the Hong Kong Productivity Council. The event saw an enthusiastic response from those in attendance. Participating organisations and properties with outstanding performances in source separation last year were presented with awards and commendation certificates.

     Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Wong thanked the property management trade and the general public for their support for waste recycling and recovery, and encouraged the trade to continue their support for the programme. Since the launch of the territory-wide Source Separation of Waste Programme in January 2005, over 1 900 housing estates and 700 rural villages have signed up to join, comprising over 80 per cent of Hong Kong's population. In October 2007, the EPD extended the programme to industrial and commercial buildings, and over 800 such buildings have joined the programme.

Ends/Saturday, February 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:55

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