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The Forum on Source Separation of Domestic Waste is being held today (May 25) jointly by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies Ltd.
Speaking at the Forum, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, said she was pleased to see the positive response from and active participation by property management companies, Housing Department and HK Housing Society to the territory-wide programme on source separation of domestic waste.
Since the launch in January, 2005, more than 340 housing estates have enrolled in the Source Separation of Domestic Waste Programme, covering 427,000 households and a population of 1.5 million.
Among them, some 120 housing estates have provided waste separation facilities on each building floor while others have committed to improve their existing facilities and broaden the scope of recyclables to be recovered.
Besides paper, aluminium cans and plastic bottles that are used to be collected by the 3-coloured waste separation bins, the types of recyclables recovered have now been broadened to include all other types of recyclables such as biscuit tins, clean metal cans, plastic bags, plastic packaging materials, CDs, toys, clothes, electronic and electrical appliances as well as computers etc.
About 60 housing estates have achieved an overall 50% increase in the quantity of recyclables collected while generating three to four per cent less waste.
Dr Liao also took the opportunity to announce the launch of The Guidebook on Source Separation of Waste in Residential Buildings.
The guidebook provides guidelines for property management companies and residents﷿ organisation to adopt the best mode of waste separation and recovery tailor-made to suit its particular physical constraints and other characteristics, by setting up appropriate waste separation facilities on each floor.
It also details the building and fire safety requirements to be complied by property management companies in setting up separation facilities on each floor.
Details of the guidebook have been uploaded to the EPD's homepage (www.epd.gov.hk) for download.
Ends/Thursday, May 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:59
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