A Complete Guide To Hong Kong's New Recycling Stores

The GREEN @ COMMUNITY network aims to educate and collect recyclables from the general public. It is divided into three types of outlets:. HomeRecyclingGREEN@COMMUNITY:ACompleteGuideToHongKong’sNewRecyclingStores GREEN@COMMUNITY:ACompleteGuideToHongKong’sNewRecyclingStores RecyclingEcoLifestyleHongKong ByNathalieKientzIbanez PublishedonDec9,2020 LastupdatedDec17,2020 514  1   515Shares8MinsRead Thecity’slandfillsarerunningoutofspaceandweneedtoreduceourwasteASAP-that’sthegeneralideabehindthelatestwasteseparationprogrammesetupbytheHongKonggovernment,whichtakesin8typesofrecyclablesincludingpapers,metals,plastics,glassbottles,regulatedelectricalequipment,smallelectricalappliances,fluorescentlampsandtubesandrechargeablebatteries. Hoorayforlowerwasteliving!Foryears,recyclinginHongKonghasbeenamurkybusiness.Finally,we’vegotsomeoptions.BelowwetalkthrougheverythingyouneedtoknowaboutthenewGREEN@COMMUNITYstoresthatarepoppingupacrossthecityandthatoneofourreaderscalled“theAppleStore*”ofrecyclingcentres. Backin2005,theEnvironmentProtectionDepartment(EPD)releasedthePolicyFrameworkfortheManagementofMunicipalSolidWaste(2005-2014)thatincludedaCommunityRecyclingNetworkofoutletsacrossthecitytoencouragethegeneralpublicrecyclingefforts.InMay2013,theEPDfollowedupwiththereleaseoftheHongKongBlueprintForSustainableUseOfResources2013-2022,withtheaimofincreasingtherecyclingrateinHongKongto55%by2022.Aftertestingvariousformsofdomesticwasteseparationoptionsforflexibility,convenienceandcost-effectiveness,theEPDfinallylaunchedanewcommunityrecyclingnetworkthisyear,dubbedGREEN@COMMUNITYcompletewithanewlook,anewlogoandaresidentloyaltyprogramme. GREEN@COMMUNITY:Whatisit? TheGREEN@COMMUNITYnetworkaimstoeducateandcollectrecyclablesfromthegeneralpublic.Itisdividedintothreetypesofoutlets: 11RecyclingStations:9arealreadyoperational,theyareolderthanthenewrecyclingstores-mostopenedbetween2015and2019andtheyhavearealsenseofcommunity.22brandnewRecyclingStores:convenientlylocatedacrossthecity(5arealreadyoperational:GREEN@TINWAN,GREEN@TINHAU,GREEN@SAIYINGPUN,GREEN@SHEUNGWAN,GREEN@SANHUI,andtherestareexpectedtolaunchbeforetheendof2020.100RecyclingSpots:openingsooninapopupformat,thesewillbelocatednearresidentialbuildingswherewasteseparationfacilitiesarelimited. Forthefulllistoflocationsandaddresses,checkhere. Source:NathalieKientzIbanezforGreenQueenMedia NotesFromAConsumerLookingToRecycleinHongKong Ican’tthinkofabetterneighbourhoodtobeazerowasterthanSaiYingPun.Youcanfindalmostanyfood/groceryiteminanunpackagedformat,thereareloadsofsmallfoodshopssellingloosehandmadenoodles,tofuandwetmarketforeverything.It’salsooneofthebestplacestoliveifyouareacommittedrecycler.Firstofall,wehaveacompostbin(hostedbyHKCommunityComposting)andwehavetheCommunityRecyclingOutlet121ClocatedonSecondStreet,aswellas營盤耕作GoGreenSYP,apop-upGreenStationthattookplaceeveryTuesdayinfrontofourlocalwetmarketuntilCovid-relatedreducedgatheringregulationsforcedthemtostop. Asgreatastheseoptionsare,thereweresomedrawbacks,especiallyforpeoplewhoarenewtorecycling.Not-always-convenientopeninghours,restrictionsonwhatiscollected,alackofclearguidelinesonhowtoprepareyourrecyclables,languagebarriersforthoseofuswhodon’tspeakCantonese…butwhatwasalwaysclearwashowpopulartheseeffortswere-theTuesdaypopupswerealwayspackedwithSaiYingPunresidentseagertorecycle! FirstHandExperience:Here’sWhatHappenedWhenIVisitedAHongKongRecyclingStore ConvenientlylocatedonFirstStreetinfrontoftheSaiYingPunMTRexit,theGREEN@SAIYINGPUNstoreisopendailyfrom9amto7pmwithaself-serviceoptionwhenthestoreisclosed-amailerboxlocatednexttotheentranceofthestoreallowsresidentstodroprecyclablesaslongastheyarepre-sorted,cleananddry.ThestoresarealsopreparedforCovidlife.Forin-storevisits,amaximumoffourmembersofthepublicmayvisittheserviceatanytime,thereisatemperaturecheckattheentranceofthestore,andhandsanitisersareavailabletoallvisitors.Further, alltherecyclingcabinetsarecleanedandsanitisedeverytwohours. AsIenteredtheverymodernstore,IwasgreetedinbothCantoneseandEnglishandIwasimmediatelyinthecentreoftherecyclingbins.Thedesignisveryappealing,cleanandclear–theApplestorereferenceisonpoint.Thespaceiscleverlylaidout.Iimmediatelynoticedawashingstationinthecorner,averyimportantaddasallrecyclablesinHongKongmustberinsedbeforebeingdroppedintherecyclingbins.Personally,Ifindthatrinsingrecyclablespriortotakingthemtothestoremakethemeasiertostoreinasmallapartment. Source:NathalieKientzIbanezforGreenQueenMedia NexttoitisadrinkingwaterstationthatIcanusetorefillmybottles,anotherusefulandmeaningfuladdition,notonlydoesitallowcitizenstoaccessfree,safedrinkingwater,iteducatesthemaboutreducingourplasticbottlesconsumption.Aneyepopping5.2millionsplasticbottlesaresenttolandfilleverydayinHongKong(andthat’sareallyoldnumber,currentfiguresmustbefarworse)eventhoughourlocaltapwaterinsafetodrinkandthereareloadsofexcellenthomefiltrationsystemsavailable. There’salsotherecyclerloyaltyprogramme,termedGreenyCoinssmartcard.Basically,youneedtobringover2KGofrecyclablesinordertoqualifyandgetissuedaGREEN$Card(Note:it’sonly1KGifyougowithinthefirsttwoweeksofthestore’sopening).Followingthat,everytimeyoubringrecyclables,thestorewillweighthem,andyouwillearnthecorrespondingnumberofpointswhichcanthenbebeusedtoredeemgiftsprovidedbyEDP(thinknoodles,towels,foodseasonings).It’sgreattoseeanincentiveschemeinplace,thoughpersonallymymainmotivationtorecycleislandfillreduction. Thestoresalsoaimtooffereducationalactivities,butit’stooearlytosharemoreaboutthisasasthestoreshaveonlyjustopenedandCovidmakeseventsdifficult.EachstorehasitsownFacebookpage(here’stheSaiYingPunone)wheretheyannouncenewinitiativesandwhereresidentscanaskquestions. AvoidingWishcycling Despitewhatitmayseem,it’sbettertorecyclefeweritemswhilstfollowingtherightguidelinesthanto“whishcycle”–i.e.throwinganythingandeverythinginrecyclingbinswiththebestintentions.Whishcyclingiscounterproductiveandactuallyworseoverallthandoingnothingasitcandamagetherecyclingfacilities! Intheend,whatgotmostexcitedduringmyvisitweretheveryclearguidelinesoneachbin(Icovertheseinextensivedetailbelow).I’vebeenalowwastesocialmediaactivistformanyyearsnowandoneofthemostcommoncommentsIreceiveisthatpeopleareconfusedaboutwhattheycanrecycleandhowtheycanrecycle.Therecyclingstoremakesitveryclearandhelpseducatethepublicabouthowtopreparetheirrecycling,nottomentiontheagentsatthestoreareveryhelpful(duringmyvisitIsawonegentlyshowanothervisitorhowtocutandrecycletheirTetraPakcarton).Thisfeelslikeahugestepforward.Ifrecyclingratesaregoingtoincrease,it’skeythatwethepublicdoourpartrightbyfollowingtheguidelinesthatfacilitatetherecyclingprocessandprotectgarbagecollectors. Source:NathalieKientzIbanezforGreenQueenMedia So,WhatCanYouRecycle?CompleteGuideToHongKongRecyclingStores ThankstoclearguidelinesIrealisedthatwecanrecyclemorethanIexpectedinthenewCommunityStores.Belowafullguidesoyouarepreparedbeforeyougo,intermsofwhat’sallowed,what’snotallowed. GLASSBOTTLES Do:empty,rinseandhandlewithcareYes:beveragebottles,sauces,jarsNo:mirrors,windowglass,cookingware,glassfurniture,drugandmedicalcontainers RelatedProgramme:ProducerResponsibilityScheme(PRS)onGlassBeverageContainers BEVERAGECARTONS(akaTetraPaks) Do:cut,rinseandremoveplasticpartsYes:milkcartons,aluminiumfoilcartons,papercupsandpaperplates RelatedProgramme:https://www.milmill.hk FLUORESCENTLAMPS&TUBES Do:wraptheminpaperandhandlewithcareYes:Fluorescenttubescompactfluorescentlampsandhighintensitydischargelamps(HDL)No:incandescentbulbsandledbulbs RelatedProgramme:FluorescentLampRecyclingProgramme RECHARGEABLEBATTERIES Do:coverterminalbatterywithmaskingtapetopreventcontactbetweenterminalsorothermetalsurfacesduringstorageandtransportYes:portablerechargeablebatteriesNo:singleusebatteries,vehicleleadacidbatteries SMALLELECTRICALAPPLIANCES Do:tidyupcableYes:generalhouseholdappliancesandmobilephonesNo:appliancesforclinicaluse RelatedProgramme: RechargeableBatteryRecyclingProgramme METALS Do:emptyandrinseYes:tinandaluminiumcans,othermetalsNo:aerosolcans,chemicalcontainers RelatedProgrammes: SourceSeparationofDomesticWaste, ProgrammeonSourceSeparationofCommercial&IndustrialWaste PLASTICBOTTLES Do:emptyandrinseYes:beveragebottles,personalcareproductbottles,cleansingproductbottlesNo:medicinebottlesandchemicalbottles RelatedProgrammes: SourceSeparationofDomesticWaste, ProgrammeonSourceSeparationofCommercial&IndustrialWaste OTHERPLASTICS Do:rinseYes:plasticbags,singleuseutensilsandcontainers,packagingmaterials,Styrofoam,CDNo:compositematerials,rubberandsilicon RelatedProgrammes:SourceSeparationofDomesticWaste, ProgrammeonSourceSeparationofCommercial&IndustrialWaste, FullImplementationofthePlasticShoppingBagCharging PAPER Do:removenon-papermaterials,e.g.plasticcoatedpages,plastictapeandpaperclipsYes:newspapers,booksandmagazines,officepapersandcarboardNo:tissuepaper,handtowel,thermalpaperandplasticcoatedpaper RelatedProgrammes: SourceSeparationofDomesticWaste, ProgrammeonSourceSeparationofCommercial&IndustrialWaste LastTip:ifyoudon’tknowwhereorhowtorecyclesomething,askyourhostsattherecyclingstore-theywillbedelightedansweryourquestions. *Editor’sNote:TheGREEN@COMMUNITYstoresonHongKongislandweredesignedbylocaldesignstudioOneBiteDesign,alsothecreativeforcebehindtheGreenLadiesshopatTheMillsandthebrandingdesignerCodesign. AllimagescourtesyofNathalieKientzIbanezforGreenQueenMedia. 514  1   515Shares green@communityGreen@communityrecyclinggreen@saiyingpunhkgovernmentrecyclingprogrammerecyclablesguidehongkongrecyclingcentershongkongrecyclinghongkongrecyclingservicehongkong NathalieKientzIbanez 2posts NathalieKientzIbanezisHongKongbasedmotheroftwoyoungkidswhohailsfromParis.ALowWasteLivingActivist,Nathalieiscommittedtoraisingawarenessabouttheimpactourmodernlifestylechoiceshaveonourplanetandtohelppeopletransformdailyritualsintoconsciouschoices.OnherInstagrampage@Respectful_livingandwebsite,shesharessimpletips,thoughtsandsafealternativestoproductsweuseeverydayasindividualsandasafamily. 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