Two innovative recycling programs in Hong Kong give to ...

That's where two innovative eWaste recycling programs come in… The Computer & Communication Products Recycling Program (CCRP) and WEEE Go Green ... Skiptomaincontent search TwoinnovativerecyclingprogramsinHongKonggivetopeopleinneed TwoinnovativerecyclingprogramsinHongKonggivetopeopleinneed 29December2016 By RitsuoArao, AsiaRepresentative/BusinessDevelopmentManager Accordingto DiscoverHongKong,theamountofretailspacededicatedtogadgetryandelectronicsinthecityis“probablyonlychallengedbyjewellery[sic]shopsandconveniencestores.”Withlackofsalestaxandimportduty,bargainscanbehadonallthingselectronic.Andwhile“peopleinHongKongoftenownmorethanonehandsetandchangemodelsfrequently,”retailpricesarecompetitive,offeringsarecomprehensive,andproducts“notonlykeepupwith,butoftenprecede,worldtrends.” Themegasalesresultin,accordingto HongKongWasteReductionWebsite,anestimated6million-pluscomputersandaccessoriesfindinguseinHongKong,withaboutonefifthofthembeingreplacedeachyear—tothetuneof morethan70thousandtonsofcomputersandelectricalandelectronicequipment beingdisposedof. Althoughmostofthediscardedcomputersandtheiraccessoriesarerecycled/reusedthroughHongKong’sdemanding,knowledgeable,andthrivingB2Csecond-handelectronicsmarket—withshopsineveryneighborhoodacceptingalltypesofused,recent-model,working-conditionelectronics,fromphonestotabletstoPCstoTVsandothersmallappliances—thismarketislessinterestedinbrokenorobsoleteelectronics,andsoasmallfractionofHongKong’sdisposed-ofelectronicsendsupinlandfills. That’swheretwoinnovativeeWasterecyclingprogramscomein… TheComputer&CommunicationProductsRecyclingProgram(CCRP)andWEEEGoGreennotonlyanswerthecalltoavoidandreducethequantityofeWastebeingdepositedinlandfills(andtherebyreducetheattendantharmtopeopleandtheenvironment),thetwoinnovativeeWasterecyclingprogramsgoastepfurther:They increase theavailabilityofelectronicsandaccessoriestothoseinneed. TheComputer&CommunicationProductsRecyclingProgram(CCRP)  TheEnvironmentalProtectionDepartment(EPD)(oftheGovernmentoftheHongKongSpecialAdministrativeRegion)launchedapilotrecoveryprograminJanuary2003,whichhasrecoveredandprocessednearly150,000wastecomputersandcomputeraccessories—andmadetherecoveredandrecycledproductsavailabletoneedyfamilies. Well-receivedbythepublic,theEPD’spilotprogramgrewtobecometheComputer&CommunicationProductsRecyclingProgram(CCRP) in2015. TheCCRP’soperationsaresteeredbyaProgrammeCommitteecomprisingrepresentativesfromparticipatingcomputerequipmentsuppliersandtheChamberoftheHongKongComputerIndustry.Honorarymembersincluderepresentativesfromfourgreengroups(FriendsoftheEarth,GreenPower,EnvironmentalAssociationandWorldGreenOrganisation).TheEPDactsastheProgramme’sadvisorandhelpspromotetheCCRPtothepublic. TheCCRPcollectsusedcomputersandcomputerpartsforrefurbishmentandrecycling.ThecharitableorganizationCaritas(HongKong)helpsthemrefurbishcomputersstillinworkingconditionanddonatesthemtofamiliesandindividualsinneed.TheCCRPalsohasappointedacommercialrecyclertodismantletheremainingusedcomputersandrecoverusefulpartsandmaterials. TheCCRPacceptsdesktopcomputers,laptops,computermonitors(cathode-raytubeandLCDtypes),printers,scanners,allcomputer-relatedproductssuchaskeyboards,memorysticks,mouseunits,headsetsandspeakers,andcommunicationproductssuchasmobilephones,DECTphones,pagers,walkie-talkiesandrouters. TheCCRP-appointedcontractorcollectsusedcomputersandcomputeraccessoriesonaregularbasisandbringsthemtoaworkshopwheretheyaredividedintotwogroups:ComputersandpartsinworkingorderarehandedovertoCaritasforrefurbishmentanddonationtotheneedy;malfunctioningunitsaredismantledbytheappointedrecyclertorecovertheirusefulpartsandmaterials. WEEEGoGreenProgramHongKong BeginninginOctober2010,StJames’Settlementwasgranted3-yearfundingsupportfromtheEnvironmentandConservationFund(ECF)toimplementtheWEEEGOGREEN.ManagedbytheChristianorganizationSt.James’Settlement(whichprovidessocialwelfareprogramsandservicestothoseinneed)andwitharecyclingnetworkandpoint-to-pointcollectionservicethroughoutHongKong,the WEEEGOGREEN projectaimstoestablish“themostcomprehensive waste electricaland electronic equipmentrecyclingcentreinHongKong.”Italsoaimsforzerowaste. Throughdonationsofappliancesbycorporations,companies,citizens,electronicbrands,hotels,banks,residentialestatesatcollectionpointsandmobilecollectionpoints,oldandnewappliancesbenefitfamiliesinneedandhelpcreateabetterenvironmentforHongKong.(Citizensarealsoencouragedtodeliverappliancestocollectionstationslocatedineachdistrict.) Eachrepairableappliance isrefurbished.Thesafelyrefurbishedandreusableappliancesaregiventofamilieswithneeds.Leftoverreusableappliancesaretakentocharitysalesinordertoextendtheirlifespan.Fordevicesthatcan’tberepaired,materialsandelectroniccomponentsaresoldtoqualifiedrecyclers.Zerowasteissenttothelandfills. Thecollectionisfocusedonmajordesignateditems,namelytelevisionsets,refrigerators,washingmachines,videooraudioequipment,microwaveovens,fans,waterheaters,ricecookers,air-conditioners,heaters,electronicgamesandmobilephones. AfewofEPD’sinnovationsenhancepublicawarenessofeWasterecyclingandmakecollectionseasy:theirmobilecollectionvehicle,whichvisitsadifferentdistricteachweek,collectselectricalappliances,computers,rechargeablebatteries,compactfluorescentlampsandfluorescenttubes.(More here.) Withthelaunchofits helpdesk withahotline,EPDcanofferservicesixdaysaweek,assistingthepublic,propertymanagement,andrepresentativesofhousingestatesandbuildingstorecycletheirelectronics.Withthehotline,thepubliccanrequeston-sitecollectionforcertainitemsandinquireaboutothereWasterecycling programs.(More here.) WithEDPandWEEEGoGreen,HongKongdoesmorethankeepitselectronicsontheleadingedge;nowitcanbealeaderincleaningupitscommunitieswhilehelpingitscitizensinneedgetaboost,aswell. FeaturedphotoisusedunderaCreativeCommonslicense.Photographer: Wonderlane.