The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (June 28) that four sets of solar-powered compacting refuse bins (SCRBs) with the latest enhancements have been installed near rural locations in Tai Po, Yuen Long and Islands Districts for operational testing, with a view to discouraging unscrupulous dumping of household refuse resulting from overloaded refuse bins, and mitigating rodent infestation and pest problems. If the result is satisfactory, the FEHD will extend the initiative to other suitable locations.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "The FEHD has all along been proactively exploring how to leverage on technology to enhance refuse collection facilities, in order to facilitate the public's disposal of household refuse and improve environmental hygiene. Since 2018, the FEHD has been conducting a pilot scheme using SCRBs in refuse collection points (RCPs) with a lower refuse yield in rural areas. Relevant stakeholders in the community have shown their support to the scheme in general. After assessment and taking into consideration some stakeholders' suggestions, the FEHD has kept improving the design and operation of the SCRBs. The latest SCRBs can handle up to 1 500 litres of refuse, and are further enhanced with a multi-inlet design, two-fold inlet cover and noise reduction when compacting refuse. At present, except for the four sets of SCRBs with the latest enhancements, the FEHD has installed 28 sets of SCRBs of earlier designs in nine districts. In other words, there is a total of 32 sets of SCRBs of various designs serving nine districts."

     The FEHD has also adopted a number of new technologies to enhance the quality and efficiency of refuse collection services, with a view to improving the environmental hygiene of RCPs and their vicinities. For RCPs with a higher refuse yield in rural areas, the FEHD implemented a one-year pilot scheme of using solar-powered mobile refuse compactors (SMRCs) since mid-2020 to enable nearby residents to handle household refuse properly. Each SMRC could handle around four tonnes of refuse each time, and its enclosed design helps mitigate rodent infestation and pest problems. In view of the satisfactory result of the pilot scheme, the FEHD has installed 13 SMRCs in Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and North Districts, and is exploring the installation of SMRCs at suitable locations in different districts.

     In addition, the FEHD enhanced the 44 aluminum RCPs in rural areas in mid-2019, including the utilisation of solar panels to provide electricity generated from sustainable renewable energy for the operation of auto-sensor inlet openings, ventilation fans, lighting and electrical fly traps. The inlet openings will open automatically when members of the public approach the RCPs, enabling them to throw the refuse into the refuse container inside the RCPs without touching any facilities, which is more convenient and hygienic. The FEHD is planning to extend the initiative to other RCPs in rural areas.

     The spokesman said, "The FEHD will continue to closely monitor the operation of SCRBs, SMRCs and RCPs to assess their performance and effectiveness, with a view to widely extending the application of relevant technologies to other suitable districts."

     On the other hand, the FEHD reminded the public and private refuse collectors not to defy the law by discarding refuse at the side or on top of SCRBs/SMRCs, refuse bins or litter containers, and they should dispose of bagged refuse of a bigger size properly at RCPs. The spokesman stressed that keeping the environment clean and hygienic hinges on the active participation and sustained efforts of all parties in the community. He urged members of the public to be civic-minded and fulfil their civic responsibility in keeping Hong Kong clean and hygienic.

     For details of the FEHD refuse collection facilities, members of the public may visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) and the Keep Clean webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/tc_chi/events/keep_clean2020-2021/index.html) (Chinese version only).

Ends/Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:45

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