‘Green Sevens’ scores with top Hong Kong environment official

Dramatic reductions in the amount of waste produced at the Hong Kong Sevens have set a standard for other leading sports events to follow, the government’s key environment protection official said.

The amount of refuse collected has been halved over the past three years thanks to a green campaign that has transformed the annual rugby extravaganza at Hong Kong Stadium.

Introduced as a pilot scheme in 2014, the “Green Sevens” campaign has slashed the total waste level – materials generated and disposed of over three days – at the 40,000-seat venue from 201 tonnes to 101 tonnes, mostly as a result of intensive work with suppliers.

“This is a massive job, something Hong Kong can be proud of as we will not see this happen in other rugby tournaments around the world,” Christine Loh Kung-wai, undersecretary for the environment, said on Thursday.

“This was initiated by the Hong Kong Rugby Union three years ago and, with the support of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, we have achieved significant waste reduction and have also helped identify a series of practices that we are eager to share with other event organisers.”

Loh said the government was also working with two other top sports events, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon and the New World Harbour Race, in a similar project. The newly established Formula E race, which will be held on the Central Harbourfront for the second time later this year, would be the next target.

Of the refuse collected last year, a significant portion went on to be recycled.