Frustrated with the government’s recycling services, Hongkongers are taking matters into their own hands
- Initiatives such as ‘Waste-no-mall’ offer greater recycling choices and let users see what happens to their recycled waste
- The rate of waste recovered for recycling stands at 32 per cent of the total collected, a 10-year low for Hong Kong
Hauling large bags of plastic food packaging, egg cartons, polystyrene trays and other recyclable garbage, residents of Sai Ying Pun wait patiently as volunteers sort the items into their respective bins: six for plastics, and several more for paper and metals.
“If it breaks, it’s probably Type Six plastic. If it doesn’t, it’s probably Type Five,” says Tam Kwok-sun as he bends an unmarked, single-use plastic spoon.
The 63-year-old retired teacher is one of around half a dozen volunteers at “Waste-no-mall Sai Ying Pun” – a makeshift community recycling station outside the local MTR station. The group, who consider themselves environmental activists, started organising the fortnightly event last May.
“I was inspired to do this because I’ve seen sanitation workers dump everything they’ve collected from public recycling bins into the same pile,” says Tam.
Concerned that people would start dumping rubbish irresponsibly once the government’s mandatory waste charging scheme for households and shops kicks in next year, Tam believes public education is essential.
Across Hong Kong, residents and volunteers in towns and neighbourhoods such as Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Chai Wan and Tai Po, are stepping up recycling efforts themselves, apparently driven by a shared mistrust of the government’s waste management measures.
