Recycling is important to reduce waste and conserve resources. Many common items like paper, plastic, glass and metals can be recycled. In Hong Kong, about 36% of total waste is recovered for recycling either locally or by exporting abroad. Paper, plastics and metals account for most of the recycled materials. The recycling process turns used materials into new products. However, more can be done to promote recycling through better public education, incentives for waste reduction, and support for recycling businesses.

1. RecyclingRecycling

2. Every day we damp a lot of domestic,Every day we damp a lot of domestic,
industrial & agricultural wastes. Some ofindustrial & agricultural wastes. Some of
the materials in the rubbish will decay:the materials in the rubbish will decay:
this include the left-over food, fruitthis include the left-over food, fruit
peelings, etc. They can be broken downpeelings, etc. They can be broken down
into simple inorganic materials by theinto simple inorganic materials by the
action of bacteria and fungi. We call thisaction of bacteria and fungi. We call this
sort of pollutant biodegradable. Othersort of pollutant biodegradable. Other
kinds of rubbish will not decay, becausekinds of rubbish will not decay, because
they are made of substances whichthey are made of substances which
cannot be broken down into simplecannot be broken down into simple
inorganic materials. They are called non-inorganic materials. They are called non-
biodegradable. They include plastic,biodegradable. They include plastic,
polystyrene, metal, etc.polystyrene, metal, etc.

3. This kind of rubbish wastes aThis kind of rubbish wastes a
large space of the landfill site andlarge space of the landfill site and
cannot burn. But we may usecannot burn. But we may use
another method to treat with thisanother method to treat with this
kind of rubbish, which is calledkind of rubbish, which is called
recycling. By recycling, we canrecycling. By recycling, we can
make use of used materials likemake use of used materials like
paper, metal products and plasticpaper, metal products and plastic
products from the waste again.products from the waste again.
For example, we can collect andFor example, we can collect and
melt used glass and metals for themelt used glass and metals for the
production of new glass bottlesproduction of new glass bottles
and new aluminum cans.and new aluminum cans.

4. Type of rubbish can be recycleType of rubbish can be recycle
timber productstimber products
(e.g. furniture)(e.g. furniture)
paperpaper
metal productsmetal products
aluminium canaluminium can
plastics (e.g. tires,plastics (e.g. tires,
plastic bottles, etc)plastic bottles, etc)

5. Aim of recyclingAim of recycling
Save resourcesSave resources
Timber, metal and plastic are non-renewableTimber, metal and plastic are non-renewable
resources. Recycling can help to reduce theresources. Recycling can help to reduce the
using the left materials.using the left materials.
Reduce deposal wasteReduce deposal waste
As part of the rubbish are taken to recycle. ThusAs part of the rubbish are taken to recycle. Thus
reduce the area of landfill site use.reduce the area of landfill site use.
Protect the environmentProtect the environment
As it prevent the burning of plastic in incineratorAs it prevent the burning of plastic in incinerator
and reduce the area of landfill site use.and reduce the area of landfill site use.

6. The fact in Hong Kong of recyclingThe fact in Hong Kong of recycling
About 1.94 million tones of waste wereAbout 1.94 million tones of waste were
recovered in Hong Kong in 2001. Thisrecovered in Hong Kong in 2001. This
represented about 36% of the total waste arisingrepresented about 36% of the total waste arising
in the city. The recovered wastes were eitherin the city. The recovered wastes were either
recycled locally (0.17 million tonnes1) orrecycled locally (0.17 million tonnes1) or
exported to the Mainland and other countries forexported to the Mainland and other countries for
recycling (1.77 million tonnes2).recycling (1.77 million tonnes2).
The major kinds of recyclable wastes recoveredThe major kinds of recyclable wastes recovered
included paper, plastics and metal, whichincluded paper, plastics and metal, which
accounted for about 98% of the wasteaccounted for about 98% of the waste
recovered. The remaining 2% were glass, wood,recovered. The remaining 2% were glass, wood,
rubber tires and textile.rubber tires and textile.

9. The fact of paper recyclingThe fact of paper recycling
The paper recycling process starts byThe paper recycling process starts by
beating waste paper into pieces in abeating waste paper into pieces in a
stirring tank to generate paper pulp.stirring tank to generate paper pulp.
Contaminants are removed while theContaminants are removed while the
remaining fibers are fed into fiber refinersremaining fibers are fed into fiber refiners
to produce refined fibers. The flowingto produce refined fibers. The flowing
refined pulp is then directed to a paperrefined pulp is then directed to a paper
former for layer deposition. The paperformer for layer deposition. The paper
layer is de-watered by a mechanicallayer is de-watered by a mechanical
press, followed by vacuum suction andpress, followed by vacuum suction and
thermal drying to produce corrugatedthermal drying to produce corrugated
medium for paper container andmedium for paper container and
paperboard.paperboard.

10. The recycled paper produced by localThe recycled paper produced by local
recyclers confines to corrugated paperrecyclers confines to corrugated paper
and duplex paper card for packaging. Aand duplex paper card for packaging. A
variety of waste paper including the highvariety of waste paper including the high
value waste paper (e.g. white paper andvalue waste paper (e.g. white paper and
computer printout), old corrugatedcomputer printout), old corrugated
cardboard, newspapers and other mixedcardboard, newspapers and other mixed
paper, are being exported to overseaspaper, are being exported to overseas
countries for recycling.countries for recycling.
About 800,000 tones of waste paper wereAbout 800,000 tones of waste paper were
recovered in Hong Kong. This representedrecovered in Hong Kong. This represented
about 58% of the waste paper generatedabout 58% of the waste paper generated
(dry weight).(dry weight).

11. The fact of plastic recyclingThe fact of plastic recycling
The recycling of plastic waste is limited toThe recycling of plastic waste is limited to
clean scraps and rejects fromclean scraps and rejects from
manufacturing sources. Though domesticmanufacturing sources. Though domestic
recovery of plastic bottles has increasedrecovery of plastic bottles has increased
significantly since the introduction of thesignificantly since the introduction of the
waste separation bins in housing estateswaste separation bins in housing estates
and public places, there is still limitedand public places, there is still limited
reprocessing of post-consumer plasticreprocessing of post-consumer plastic
such as plastic bottles and plastic bagssuch as plastic bottles and plastic bags
due to many practical constraints anddue to many practical constraints and
barriers.barriers.

12. Most local plastic recyclers consume onlyMost local plastic recyclers consume only
clean and homogeneous pre-consumerclean and homogeneous pre-consumer
plastic waste collected from the industrialplastic waste collected from the industrial
sector. The plastic waste recyclingsector. The plastic waste recycling
process starts with the sorting by resinprocess starts with the sorting by resin
types. The plastics are rinsed to removetypes. The plastics are rinsed to remove
contaminants. The sorted and washedcontaminants. The sorted and washed
waste is then crushed and mixed withwaste is then crushed and mixed with
colourant before melting and pelletising.colourant before melting and pelletising.
The pellets produced will be sold to plasticThe pellets produced will be sold to plastic
product manufacturers as raw material.product manufacturers as raw material.

13. The fact of metal recyclingThe fact of metal recycling
Waste metals are broadly classified intoWaste metals are broadly classified into
two types: ferrous and non-ferrous metal.two types: ferrous and non-ferrous metal.
The most common ferrous metalsThe most common ferrous metals
recovered in Hong Kong are: -ironrecovered in Hong Kong are: -iron
-tinplate -alloy steel scrap -other scrap-tinplate -alloy steel scrap -other scrap
Non-ferrous metals recovered include:Non-ferrous metals recovered include:
-copper & alloys -zinc -nickel -tin-copper & alloys -zinc -nickel -tin
-aluminium -precious metal -lead -metal-aluminium -precious metal -lead -metal
ash & residuesash & residues

14. About 803,000 tones of ferrous metal wereAbout 803,000 tones of ferrous metal were
recovered. This represented about 91% ofrecovered. This represented about 91% of
the ferrous metal waste arising in thethe ferrous metal waste arising in the
territory. The major kinds of ferrous metalsterritory. The major kinds of ferrous metals
recovered included structural steel, scraprecovered included structural steel, scrap
vehicle and scrap home appliances.vehicle and scrap home appliances.
About 76% of the total non-ferrous metalAbout 76% of the total non-ferrous metal
arising was recovered. Out of the 76,800arising was recovered. Out of the 76,800
tones recovered.tones recovered.
The recovered metal is first classified, meltThe recovered metal is first classified, melt
and then turn to it shape by molding.and then turn to it shape by molding.

15. The limiting factor of recyclingThe limiting factor of recycling
Although the environmental awareness of theAlthough the environmental awareness of the
general public has increased significantly ingeneral public has increased significantly in
recent years, their willingness to activelyrecent years, their willingness to actively
participate in waste reduction still needs to beparticipate in waste reduction still needs to be
enhanced.enhanced.
Promoting waste avoidance on purelyPromoting waste avoidance on purely
environmental reasons may not be sufficient.environmental reasons may not be sufficient.
As costs for collection and disposal servicesAs costs for collection and disposal services
are not linked directly with the quantity ofare not linked directly with the quantity of
wastes generated through charging, there iswastes generated through charging, there is
no financial incentive for waste producers tono financial incentive for waste producers to
reduce waste.reduce waste.

16. The built environment inhibits recyclingThe built environment inhibits recycling
activities from the domestic waste stream.activities from the domestic waste stream.
Small flat sizes restrict source separationSmall flat sizes restrict source separation
and storage practices.and storage practices.
Low values, high transportation cost orLow values, high transportation cost or
lack of market demand for recoveredlack of market demand for recovered
materials particularly for plastics, glass,materials particularly for plastics, glass,
paper, metal, textiles, tires and organicpaper, metal, textiles, tires and organic
materials.materials.
The predominance of small and mediumThe predominance of small and medium
recovery and recycling enterprisesrecovery and recycling enterprises
discourages investments in wastediscourages investments in waste
recovery technologies.recovery technologies.

17. On Government level,On Government level,
Provide more Waste Separation Bins at eachProvide more Waste Separation Bins at each
buildings, plazas, leisure and cultural venues,buildings, plazas, leisure and cultural venues,
schools, country parks, offices & factories.schools, country parks, offices & factories.
Encourages materials re-use, recovery andEncourages materials re-use, recovery and
recycling to help achieve waste reduction.recycling to help achieve waste reduction.
Allocating suitable land solely for recyclingAllocating suitable land solely for recycling
purpose at affordable rent is a major measurepurpose at affordable rent is a major measure
for supporting the waste recycling industry. Asfor supporting the waste recycling industry. As
the profit of waste recovery and recycling isthe profit of waste recovery and recycling is
often marginal, leasing land through openoften marginal, leasing land through open
tendering exclusively to waste recyclers couldtendering exclusively to waste recyclers could
lower their operation cost. This would helplower their operation cost. This would help
promote the local recycling activity in Hongpromote the local recycling activity in Hong
Kong.Kong.

18. Organise more activities which are promotingOrganise more activities which are promoting
the recycling and reusing of useful rubbish.the recycling and reusing of useful rubbish.
Set up a recycling fund scheme for theSet up a recycling fund scheme for the
recycling factories, and for organisingrecycling factories, and for organising
recycling activities.recycling activities.

19. On personal level,On personal level,
Collect & classify the rubbish likeCollect & classify the rubbish like
aluminium can and paper which can bealuminium can and paper which can be
recycle or reuse. Put these kind of rubbishrecycle or reuse. Put these kind of rubbish
into the Waste Separation Bins.into the Waste Separation Bins.
Use both side of paper.Use both side of paper.
Reduce the using of products made byReduce the using of products made by
plastic (e.g. plastic bag or bottle), alwaysplastic (e.g. plastic bag or bottle), always
reuse and put into the Waste Separationreuse and put into the Waste Separation
Bins.Bins.

21. ENDEND