The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 31) said the department strives to continuously strengthen publicity and education work, stepping up efforts in the promotion of community-wide participation in waste reduction and recycling. A GO Recycling Campaign will be launched tomorrow (June 1). Through a new round of promotional activities and extra GREEN$ rewards, it encourages members of the public to cultivate the habits of source separation and recycling and to integrate the habits into their daily lives. The GO Recycling Campaign is also one of the celebration events for the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

     From June 1 to July 31, members of the public who submit designated recyclables (including waste paper, metals, plastics, glass containers, regulated electrical equipment, small electrical appliances, fluorescent lamps/tubes, rechargeable batteries and beverage cartons) at the EPD's community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY (including Recycling Stations, Recycling Stores, Recycling Spots, and Smart Recycling Bins) can earn six times the normal amount of GREEN$ points. Those who participate in food waste recycling using Smart Food Waste Recycling Bins can also gain an additional 10 GREEN$ points daily. In addition, to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, limited edition gifts featuring Big Waster will be available for redemption from July 1 to 31.

     Residents of Public Rental Housing (PRH) estates account for about 30 per cent of the Hong Kong population. Starting from June 1, the EPD will progressively distribute designated bags to about 840 000 households in all 214 PRH estates. Each household will be provided with 20 designated bags free of charge every month for an initial period of six months (to be distributed in three batches, with a pack of 40 bags in each batch), with a view to educating and encouraging residents to learn about waste reduction and waste separation for recycling. The EPD hopes that residents can make good use of the recycling facilities in their estates and try to use the 20 designated bags provided to dispose of all monthly waste without using additional garbage bags, so as to achieve waste reduction and recycling. In addition, the EPD will also launch the Waste Reduction and Recycling Charter to encourage residential premises to provide sufficient and convenient recycling facilities and handle recyclables properly.

     Throughout the implementation of the GO Recycling Campaign, the Green Outreach and the operators of GREEN@COMMUNITY will organise waste reduction and recycling promotional activities in PRH estates, Recycling Spots, public markets and near public transport stations (e.g. MTR stations) across the territory. The Green Outreach will also offer assistance to schools to take forward the "We-recycle@School" activity launched on March 1. Over 300 primary and secondary schools have committed to participating in the activity. The EPD will launch online videos featuring interactions between key opinion leaders and Big Waster on social media to educate the public on source separation, clean recycling and the utilisation of community recycling facilities. 

     A spokesman for the EPD said that the department has rolled out a number of waste reduction and recycling schemes to improve the community recycling network progressively, thereby helping the public practise waste reduction at source, including the Programme on Source Separation of Waste that provides free waste separation bins to over 2 700 housing estates/residential buildings and about 1 300 commercial and industrial buildings; and the continuous expansion of the community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY. As of the end of May this year, GREEN@COMMUNITY has established 11 Recycling Stations, 77 Recycling Stores (including 45 in PRH estates), more than 130 Recycling Spots, 82 Smart Recycling Bins and an increasing number of Recycling Spots. It is anticipated to increase the number of public collection points to about 380 in June and further to about 500 in August. Together with about 1 100 sets of roadside recycling bins in rural areas, the recycling network comprising the above schemes has already covered over 80 per cent of the population in various districts of Hong Kong.

     Regarding food waste recycling, the EPD has been gradually expanding the domestic food waste collection services, including the implementation of various food waste collection schemes in PRH estates and private residential buildings. The EPD expected to complete the installation of more than 700 Smart Food Waste Recycling Bins in over 200 PRH estates across the territory by August 2024 and has planned to install additional Smart Food Waste Recycling Bins in PRH estates with higher quantity of food waste.

     Information on the extra rewards and limited edition gifts under the GO Recycling Campaign can be found on the EPD website at www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk/article/go-recycling-campaign-extra-rewards.

Ends/Friday, May 31, 2024
Issued at HKT 19:05

NNNN