EPD launches "Minimising Waste, Maximising the Future" campaign (Broadcast in Cantonese)
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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, officiated at a ceremony to kick off a waste reduction campaign titled "Minimising Waste, Maximising the Future" with guests and artistes today (May 23).
Organised by the Environmental Protection Department, the campaign aims to promote a greener lifestyle and resource conservation. The launching ceremony was held at Hollywood Plaza, Diamond Hill, this afternoon.
Mr Yau said Hong Kong generated about 18,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste a day. Half of it is recycled, but about 9,000 tonnes of waste are sent to landfills every day. The existing landfills in Hong Kong will be full, one by one, within 10 years.
"The problem is imminent and should be addressed at source. Waste reduction is important to our daily lives. To encourage the public to treasure and conserve resources, the Government will join with the private sector and different organisations to send the message across to the community," he said.
He noted that the Government had been working with various community organisations to encourage the public to go green in everyday life. Through today's campaign, it is hoped that they will learn more about the importance of waste reduction and be smart in making economical use of resources in every aspect of their lives to make Hong Kong a green city.
A series of promotional activities under the "Minimising Waste, Maximising the Future" waste reduction campaign will be held in mid-2010. These include co-operation with the business sector to place more recycling bins in shopping malls and encouraging patrons of cafes and restaurants not to use disposable utensils. So far, six cafe chains with nearly 300 stores in total and the shopping malls of eight property management companies have participated in the campaign. In addition, a number of exhibitions on waste reduction will be held for the public at various locations across the territory in summer.
Also officiating at today's ceremony were Chairman of the Waste Recovery Projects Vetting Subcommittee, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), Professor Jonathan Wong; Director of Friends of the Earth (HK), Mr Edwin Lau; Chairman of the Tai Po Environmental Association, Dr Yau Wing-kwong; Chairman of the Conservancy Association, Mr Lam Kin-lai; Director of Greeners Action, Miss Karen Hung; and artiste Lisa Wang.
During the launching ceremony, the guests pledged to reduce waste and shared practical tips on environmental protection with participants. They also took part in games to try out their knowledge of waste reduction and received an enthusiastic response from the residents and shoppers watching the event.