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Following is a question by the Hon Ip Wai-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, in the Legislative Council today (February 23):
Question
The Housing Department has implemented the "Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste" since 2005 by placing recycling bins for different kinds of waste, commonly known as "three-coloured waste separation bins" (three-coloured bins), in some public housing estates (PHEs) in Hong Kong to facilitate residents to separate domestic waste at source. However, some members of the public have complained that some PHEs still do not have recycling bins, thus discouraging them from participating in the recycling programme. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) as at December 2010, whether "three-coloured bins" had been placed in all housing estates of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA estates); if so, of the way in which such bins were placed in various PHEs and their numbers; if not, whether the authorities have plans to place such recycling bins in all PHEs in Hong Kong;
(b) how the authorities at present dispose of all the waste recovered from HA estates or through what ways the waste is recycled; whether the authorities have any plan to improve or perfect the existing recycling processes in PHEs, or co-operate with some local environmental protection groups and waste recyclers to raise the recovery rate and ensure that the waste concerned can be recovered and recycled;
(c) in the past three years, whether the authorities had received complaints concerning waste recovery in PHEs; if so, of the number and the subject matters of the complaints; how the authorities handled the complaints, and whether relevant policies had been drawn up to prevent recurrence of the situations which were the subjects of such complaints;
(d) as at December 2010, whether all HA estates had recycling bins for used rechargeable batteries and compact fluorescent lamps, apart from the three-coloured bins; if so, of the way in which these bins were placed and their numbers; if not, whether the authorities have plans to extend the measures to all PHEs in Hong Kong;
(e) of the quantities of used rechargeable batteries and compact fluorescent lamps recovered from the aforesaid recycling bins placed in HA estates in the past three years; and the relevant recovery and disposal processes adopted;
(f) as at December 2010, whether all HA estates had, on a long-term basis, recycling bins for used clothes and whether those bins were provided by the authorities; if so, of the way in which the bins were placed and their numbers; if not, whether the authorities have plans to extend the measures to all PHEs in Hong Kong; and
(g) whether at present all the shopping centres in HA estates have "three-coloured bins" to facilitate the recovery of waste disposed of by commercial tenants; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether HA has stipulated relevant clauses in the contracts of tenancy to encourage commercial tenants to actively participate in the waste recovery programme so as to raise the recovery rate?
Reply
President,
My reply to the Hon Ip Wai-ming's seven-part question is as follows: -
(a) As at December 2010, three-coloured recycling bins have been placed in the ground floor lift lobbies of domestic blocks in all the Hong Kong Housing Authority's (HA) public rental housing (PRH) estates, to facilitate separation of recyclable waste by PRH tenants at source. There are about 5 700 sets of recycling bins and recycling bags placed in ground floors and domestic floors of PRH blocks.
(b) To promote collection of recyclable waste, the Housing Department (HD) has required its management agents and cleansing contractors to undertake environmental work diligently according to the requirements set out in the services contracts. Management agents and cleansing contractors are required to ensure all the recyclable waste collected is handed over to recyclers. The HD would require them to provide relevant proof for verification purpose. They would also set up collection points in estates from time to time for collection of recyclable waste from PRH tenants and offer incentives, such as household sundries or cash, to encourage PRH tenants' participation in recycling activities.
At the same time, the HD has collaborated with Estate Management Advisory Committees and green groups to organise various types of activities related to environmental protection, such as fun fairs and exhibitions, in PRH estates to raise awareness among our PRH tenants of waste recovery and reduction so as to encourage a higher recovery rate.
(c) In the past three years (2008 to 2010), the HD received a total of 20 complaint cases related to implementation of the waste separation and recovery programme in PRH estates. Nine cases involved persons removing the items from the recycling bins. Another 11 cases concerned cleansing contractors improperly handled the recyclable waste such as dumping them as normal waste into the landfill site.
To stop persons from removing the recovery items (such as waste paper and aluminium cans) from the recycling bins deliberately, the HD has stepped up patrols by the security guards and posted notices to educate PRH tenants.
Regarding the complaints against the cleansing contractors for improperly handling recyclable domestic waste, the HD has required its management agents and cleansing contractors to undertake environmental work diligently according to the requirements set out in the service contracts. Management agents and cleansing contractors are required to ensure all the recyclable waste collected is handed over to recyclers. The HD will issue periodical reminders to its contractors reminding them to strictly comply with the contractual obligations on environmental management and properly handle all recyclable waste received.
(d) and (e) All HA's PRH estates have joined the "Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programme" and "Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Programme" organised by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). As at December 2010, a total of 1 092 and 703 collection boxes have been placed in all PRH estates for collection of rechargeable batteries and fluorescent lamps and tubes under the two programmes respectively. In the past three years, the quantities of rechargeable batteries and fluorescent lamps and tubes recovered are about 760 kg and 354 800 pieces respectively.
In general, the collection boxes for rechargeable batteries are placed at the security guard counters at ground floor lift lobbies of the domestic blocks. Estate staff will deliver the recovered batteries to the HD's designated collection points regularly for handling by the EPD's contractor.
As for the recycling of fluorescent lamps and tubes, PRH tenants can deposit the obsolete fluorescent lamps and tubes into the collection boxes placed at the security guard counters at the ground floor lift lobbies of the domestic blocks for recycling. After a sufficient quantity of lamps and tubes is accumulated, estate staff will contact the contractor of the EPD﷿s Chemical Waste Treatment Centre to arrange for collection and treatment.
(f) Used-clothes collection bins are placed in all PRH estates. As at December 2010, the HD has placed a total of 217 used-clothes collection bins in the PRH estates.
(g) Some of the HA's shopping centres have already been provided with three-coloured recycling bins. The HD will provide such collection facilities in all shopping centres within 2011. Although there are no clauses on waste recycling in the HA's tenancy agreement with shop tenants, the HA will continue to promote and stress the importance of environmental protection, green and healthy life to its shop tenants.
Ends/Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:26
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