O · PARK1, the first organic resources recovery centre in Hong Kong, converts food waste into electricity and provides a green education space that combines environmental protection, multiple technology features and learning elements. An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said today (February 25) that the O · PARK1 Visitor Centre will officially open to the public on March 1, with advance online bookings for guided tours starting from today.

     The spokesman said, "O · PARK1 has been collecting food waste since July 2018. It converts food waste into biogas for power generation through the application of advanced biotechnology, with a daily food waste treatment capacity of about 200 tonnes. Apart from handling food waste, O · PARK1 is also responsible for promoting a 'food wise and waste less' culture to reduce food waste at source."

     The O · PARK1 Visitor Centre uses innovative computer animations to give visitors a general introduction of the centre's operation, design and craftsmanship. This is the first time that the EPD has integrated the use of 360-degree projection and 3D mapping technology in an educational facility. In the O · CLUB dome theatre of the Visitor Centre, innovative computer animations are used to illustrate the advanced food waste treatment processes and the associated benefits in greenhouse gas reduction towards combating climate change. This also helps promote the "food wise and waste less" culture. 

     Visitors can also experience an exciting food-waste-to-energy adventure, together with four food-waste characters, through a lively cartoon feature at the O · CLUB dome theatre. The journey starts when the food waste characters are disposed of. They are transported to O · PARK1 and end up in the anaerobic digestion tank before escaping from the biogas holder. It is expected that this unforgettable adventure will enable visitors to better understand the food-waste-to-energy processes, helping to instill a behavioural change in food waste reduction at source.

     Outside the dome theatre, visitors will travel along an outdoor visitor path with three attractions. They can take photos with the iconic "Big Waster" at O · WELL, then stroll along the O · LINK path for a closer look at the actual-size equipment and systems, while tour guides will explain in detail the concept of converting food waste to energy and how the renewable energy can contribute towards the goal of carbon neutrality. Finally, visitors will arrive at the O · FARM sky garden, located on the rooftop of the composting and maturation building, to appreciate the horticulture.
 
     Shrubs in O · FARM and all the gardening within the facilities are nurtured by in-house produced compost products. Compost is the by-product generated from recycling food waste at O · PARK1. All visitors will receive a bag of compost as a souvenir to share the benefits from food waste recycling.

     The Visitor Centre offers four guided tours daily except Tuesdays, with free transportation between Sunny Bay MTR Station and O · PARK1. Members of the public can make advance bookings for Cantonese, Putonghua and English guided tours on the O · PARK1 website (www.opark.gov.hk/en/tour.php).

Ends/Thursday, February 25, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:33

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