War on waste: smaller bins on Hong Kong’s streets to tackle amount of rubbish dumped
But green group says there are still far too many bins in the city despite a recent 15 per cent reduction in number
A first batch of newly designed rubbish bins featuring smaller openings and bigger warning notices will hit the streets next week in a bid to spur appropriate waste disposal.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department hoped the move would help tackle widespread cases of oversized rubbish being chucked into bins or bagged refuse being placed around or on top of them. They are also considering a further reduction of the huge number of rubbish bins on Hong Kong’s streets.
“The [aim is] to educate the public not to discard refuse at the side or on top of litter containers and to dispose of bagged refuse properly at refuse collection points,” the department said.
From current dimensions of 370 x 190mm, openings for standard 130-litre bins will be reduced to 230 x 150mm. Later this year the department will also introduce 70-litre bins with openings reduced from 290 x 190mm to 205 x 130mm. A new 100-litre bin will also be trialled in select districts.
“In addition ... the warning messages affixed to the new litter containers will be more prominent and clearer to enhance the publicity, education and warning impacts,” a spokesman said.
