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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, today (August 29) visited the EcoPark in Tuen Mun to inspect the progress made by tenants in the collection and recycling of recyclable items, and to learn more about their businesses in order to help review Hong Kong's recycling policy.
Mr Wong said the Chief Executive's election manifesto identified waste reduction at source as the focus of waste management policy, of which waste reduction remains the top priority. Mr Wong emphasised that the Government has all along been working proactively in the promotion of waste reduction and recycling as well as collaborating with various sectors to provide recycling facilities with a view to achieving the 55 per cent waste recovery target in 2015.
The EcoPark is one of the Government's main initiatives in supporting the development of local green industries, and it is open to any recycling operations that process local recycling materials. The EcoPark provides affordable land as well as auxiliary facilities including water and electricity supply, sewage discharge and a pier for use by the recycling and environmental industry.
Mr Wong first toured the visitor centre in the EcoPark administration building. With a floor area of around 1,000 square metres, it is Hong Kong's first large-scale education centre with waste as its theme. The centre is divided into eight areas where display panels, models, video clips and interactive games are provided to illustrate Hong Kong's waste management system and to promote the importance of waste reduction and recycling. Since opening in 2010, the centre has received more than 2,000 organisations and schools including around 50,000 visitors in an effort to spread the message of recycling.
Mr Wong visited four Eco Park tenants. Two were non-governmental organisations (NGOs), namely Yan Oi Tong EcoPark Plastic Resources Recycling Centre and the St James' Settlement "WEEE GO GREEN" EcoPark, which process waste plastic and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) respectively. He also called in at the Li Tong Group, which recycles waste electronic and computer equipment, and Champway Technology Limited, which recycles waste cooking oil and restaurant waste. Mr Wong was briefed on the collection and processing of different types of recyclables during his tour of the tenants' plants. The two NGO tenants also briefed Mr Wong on their programmes and activities to promote recycling in schools and the community.
Located on Lung Mun Road in Tuen Mun, the 20-hectare EcoPark has been developed in two phases to provide 14 hectares of rentable area for the recycling and environmental industry. All six lots in Phase 1, with an area of about four hectares, have been leased. Phase 2 occupies 10 hectares of rentable area, in which two lots have been leased to Yan Oi Tong and St James' Settlement for running their recycling centres, and five lots are for the recycling of waste metals, waste batteries, waste construction material and waste glass, WEEE and waste rubber tyres. These five tenants are now fully engaged in planning for the construction of their plants, with the target of commissioning their respective operations in 2013.
Ends/Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:41
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