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Letter to the Editor of SCMP - Response to a letter entitled "We need more recycling bins" (July 14)
I am writing to respond to the letter headlined "We need more recycling bins" on 14 July, 2007 from Mr. P. Jeremy Newton of Happy Valley regarding the design and number of recycling bins as well as the collection of recyclable materials from them.
Currently, the Government has placed about 28,000 3-coloured waste separation bins in various locations throughout the territory. The relevant Government departments will increase or reduce the number of waste separation bins and their locations in the light of the actual situation and needs of the place, such as pedestrian flow, the quantity of recyclables collected and the holding capacity of the bins, etc. Members of the public can also contact the relevant departments if they have any comments on the number and locations of the waste separation bins.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has contracted out the collection service of recyclables from the waste separation bins at all public places and schools. According to the contractual requirements, contractors collect recyclables from various collection points at least once a week. The Government will request the contractors to increase the frequency of collection according to the situation and needs so as to prevent the bins from overflowing.
Since the beginning of 2005, the Government has started using separation bins of a new design at public places which have larger openings to facilitate the collection of a larger range of recyclables and larger items such as all types of waste paper, metal containers and plastics. The Government will gradually replace old separation bins by those of the new design.
The Government is committed to resolving the waste problem and has launched a territory-wide programme on source separation of domestic waste with a view to making it more convenient for residents to separate waste at source by encouraging and assisting property management companies to provide waste separation facilities on each building floor; and broaden the types of recyclables to be recovered. So far over 600 housing estates have signed up to join the programme. The quantity of recyclables recovered by the participating housing estates has increased by over 50 per cent while the amount of waste requiring disposal has been reduced by almost 4 per cent. Information about this programme and the Government’s other initiatives to enhance waste reduction and recovery is available in the website of the Environmental Protection Department: http//www.epd.gov.hk.
Thank you for your interest in waste recycling and we look forward to your continuous support in tackling the waste problem in Hong Kong.
Warren Wong
Acting Principal Environmental Protection Officer
for Director of Environmental Protection
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