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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 10) collected an estimated total of 388 tonnes of refuse in 14 Lunar New Year (LNY) Fair sites throughout Hong Kong, an increase of roughly 106 tonnes over last year.
"Among the refuse cleared, some 148 tonnes were collected in the Victoria Park LNY Fair, around 38 tonnes more than that in 2012," an FEHD spokesman said.
Apart from collection of recyclables including waste paper, plastic materials and metal, the spokesman noted that the FEHD had also tried out this year collection of waste wood at the Victoria Park venue, with about 4 tonnes of discarded plants, bamboo, wooden planks, etc sent to the EcoPark of the Environmental Protection Department at Tuen Mun for recycling.
The department deployed about 240 staff members, 40 refuse collection vehicles and street washing vehicles to clean up the Victoria Park venue. The other 13 LNY Fair sites were cleaned by the department's cleansing contractors.
The department also gathered some 1180 unsold pots of flowers and plants donated by the vendors in all the fairs. They were delivered free to 184 elderly homes and 7 public hospitals by 20 volunteer teams made up of FEHD staff, the spokesman added.
All refuse collection work was completed at about 6.10pm. After thorough cleansing, the venues were restored to their original state.
Ends/Sunday, February 10, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:40
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