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Waste
Reduction Task Force
We established
the Waste Reduction Task Force for the public housing sector
in June 1997 in support of the Government's efforts to reduce
municipal solid waste going to landfill. Our target is to reduce
the total quantity of our solid waste requiring disposal by
20% between 1997 and 2007 through waste avoidance, minimisation
and recycling. |
Waste
Reduction in Housing Estates
We have continued our waste reduction efforts, and in the past year
have also expanded or implemented several new initiatives. We have
focused our efforts on:
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Providing
facilities for collection and segregation of recyclable materials
at source. |
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Collection
of recyclable materials including paper, aluminium cans, plastic
bottles and used clothing. |
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Encouraging
waste reduction at source through various awareness-raising
campaigns. |
Since 1991 we
have managed, in association with Green Groups and the Environmental
Campaign Committee (ECC), a waste reduction programme for the recovery
of waste paper. The programme was originally conducted in 12 estates,
but has been extended to all of our 171 housing estates in 2000. Aluminium
cans and plastic bottles are now included in the collection.
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The
increased use of waste collection bins help the collection
of household waste for recycling. |
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Participation
in the Waste Recycling Campaign
Text-only version
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All
our estates participate in Waste Recycling Campaign. |
Waste Collection Bins
We have provided 3 916 bins for collection of recyclable materials
in rental housing estates to encourage waste recycling. At present
every rental housing block is equipped with at least one set of the
3-bin system for separate collection of waste paper, aluminium cans
and plastic bottles. In new designs for domestic blocks, sufficient
space is allowed in refuse rooms on each floor to accommodate collection
bins in order to better facilitate separation and collection of recyclable
materials.
We are seeking ways to increase the collection of household waste
for recycling. On a trial basis, we partnered with Green Power at
Choi Wan Estate and with Friends of the Earth at Kwong Tin Estate
to provide collection bins on each floor of one block. Results were
encouraging as there was a significant increase in the collection
of recyclable materials. However, nuisance and management problems
were encountered but it is envisaged that they can be resolved through
use of well designed bins. In late 2001, a larger scale trial will
commence at Chak On and Chun Shek Estates where purposely designed
collection bins will be placed on all floors in all domestic blocks.
The trial will last for three months and if results are positive,
we will consider full implementation in all rental estates in phases.
Monthly
Recyclable Waste Collection
Text-only
version
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Each
month we collect a large amount of waste from residents for
recycling. Used-clothing collection started in some of our estates
in June 2000. In a few of our estates, we have also been running
a trial for metal collection since January and glass collection
since August. |
Cleansing contractors employed by the Authority are required to arrange
for the collection and transportation of household waste for recycling.
A breakdown of waste materials collected for recycling is provided
in the above chart.
The amount of waste paper, aluminium cans and plastic bottles collected
in the past year was 19% greater than in the previous year (1999/
2000). There was a significant increase in waste paper collected but
the collection of aluminium and plastic declined. We will continue
to monitor and seek ways to increase collection. For example, next
year we will promote the collection of plastic bottles by participating
the ECC's Regional Plastic Recyclable Collection Scheme. We have also
set performance indicators for the next four years for the recovery
of domestic waste.
This year we collected more types of waste for recycling. We started
collecting used-clothing in collaboration with voluntary organisations
such as the Salvation Army. In a small scale trial we have also investigated
the practicability of collecting metal and glass. Next year we intend
to promote collection of disused mobile telephone batteries.
Recyclable
Waste Collection
Text-only
version
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We
have improved the overall amount of waste material we collect
for recycling since last year. |
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