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EPD recovers 75 tonnes of used computers and electrical appliances in schools (with photos)
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     This year's Schools Recycle WEEE programme, organised by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), has been completed successfully. The programme saw about 8000 items or 75 tonnes of used computer equipment, electrical appliances and other electronic products collected from 175 primary and secondary schools, helping to promote the culture of "use less, waste less" and proper recycling in schools.

     An EPD spokesman today (November 29) said, "Running in its third year, the Schools Recycle WEEE programme is part of our preparatory work for the implementation of the mandatory producer responsibility scheme (PRS). By providing the participating schools with collection and transportation services, we wish to facilitate the proper recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generated by schools in new school year, while at the same time promoting the green habit of waste reduction recycling in schools."

     As in the past, the participating schools launched their in-house promotional activities after the summer vacation ended, while the EPD provided assistance, including information dissemination, technical support and arrangement of collection trucks to schools in October and November. In addition, the recently commissioned Community Green Stations in Sha Tin and Eastern District also assisted in the promotion and provided logistics support for the programme. Apart from encouraging students to take part in the recycling programme, some participating schools also took the opportunity to recycle an entire batch of electronic equipment for school teaching, including desktop computers, monitors, overhead projectors and printers.

     The EPD has all along been organising voluntary recycling programmes to encourage the public to properly handle their obsolete electrical appliances and electronic equipment. Given the expiry of service contracts, the EPD has consolidated a co-ordination arrangement for these programmes. The WEEE collected under the Schools Recycle WEEE programme will first undergo sorting. Functional items will then be delivered to the "WEEE Go Green" project operated by St James Settlement for donation to the needy after checking and repairing. The remaining WEEE will be properly stored by the contractor until the commissioning of the WEEE treatment and recycling facility (WEEETRF) at the EcoPark in Tuen Mun for proper treatment and dismantling. Regarding waste rechargeable batteries, they will be treated properly under the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programme managed by the Hong Kong WEEE Recycling Association.

     In addition to the Schools Recycle WEEE programme, the spokesman added that the EPD had recently launched a hotline (Tel: 2676 8888) which provides a one-stop service for handling public enquiries on collection of electrical appliances for recycling. The collection service is free of charge and targeted at items to be regulated as WEEE, namely washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, TV sets and computer products (including computers, printers, scanners and monitors). Free collection services can be provided subject to conditions including waiting time, locations of collection, and the physical conditions of the e-waste (either functional or recyclable). For further information on the programme, please visit the webpage:
www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/index.htm

     The Government is going to implement a mandatory PRS on WEEE to ensure that the above mentioned locally generated WEEE can be properly treated. At present, the draft legislative proposal is being scrutinised by the Legislative Council. In parallel, the Government has obtained funding support to develop the WEEETRF at the EcoPark in Tuen Mun to properly treat the e-waste to be collected under the mandatory PRS and turn items into reusable materials.

Ends/Sunday, November 29, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:00

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