Fix those broken windows

Fix those broken windows

James Wilson and George Kelling introduced the broken windows theory in the March 1982 issue of The Atlantic Monthly: “Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows.” “Or consider a pavement. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of refuse.”

It is this theory which explains why the government in Hong Kong is facing much opposition against its plan to charge for municipal waste. Littering and fly tipping can be observed throughout the city. Our refuse collection points, recycling bins, and material transfer points are a complete mess. This is compounded by stories, photographs and videos which show how recyclables are poorly managed and regularly seen mixed with other waste in the same garbage truck.

As a result, the public is highly skeptical about government’s handling of our waste and recycling. Nobody believes that the government can handle the extra pressure charging will bring. With so much skepticism, politicians on both sides of the aisle are reluctant to support charging for disposing of municipal waste, a critical step in promoting recycling and moving Hong Kong towards a circular economy.

Based on the Broken Windows Theory, the authorities in New York started to focus on small things - fixing broken windows, issuing tickets for jay-walking and ensuring all trains were cleaned before leaving the depot. These small but visible actions got the community to believe again that their government were looking after the city, and that the authorities had their back when making reports on crime.

Similarly, if we want to have community support for Municipal Waste Charging we first need to regain the public’s confidence with improvements which communicate that our waste is well-managed, and that our efforts in separating recyclables will indeed make a difference.

Let’s quickly fix our facilities for collecting refuse and recyclables. Many are broken or too small with waste laying around, and animals and vermin feasting. Paint them. Double the beat for cleaning trash cans and recycling bins. Clean up litter and dump sites within 24 hours. Give street cleaners financial rewards for reporting GPS locations of fly-tipping using the government’s 1823 app. Make sure that materials collected from recycling bins are kept separate and taken to a sorting facility first.

These are simple measures, none of which are difficult or expensive. These actions will go a long way in regaining public confidence and support for Municipal Waste Charging.

(Article published in Southside Magazine - July 2019 issue)

室有窪徑尺

要社會廣泛支持垃圾徵費，整頓現有的垃圾收集點、回收箱及亂倒垃圾黑點絕對是首要之重。

James Wilson 和 George Kelling 於1982年3月提出破窗效應。兩人在《大西洋》雜誌寫下：「試想一棟有數個破窗的大廈——窗戶一日得不到修整，其他窗戶被破壞的機會就會增加」。又，只要街道上有了第一件垃圾，再來第二件、第三件便變得平常不過，最後更會有一袋袋垃圾堆積起來。

這個理論正解釋香港政府推行垃圾徵費的阻力。亂拋垃圾在大街小巷隨處可以，垃圾收集站、回收箱及轉送站更只有亂局可言，我們屢屢從不同相片、片段驚見可回收的物資與其他垃圾混在同一垃圾車內一併處理。

正是這亂局令社會大眾對政府處理固體垃圾及回收抱持懷擬態度，更對能否妥善推行垃圾徵費投下不信任的一票。在普遍的懷疑態度下，不同派別政客都不願得失民意，為推行政策背書，卻因此錯失在香港推行回收並邁向可循環經濟的重要一步。

按照破窗效應，紐約政府機關由小事做起修補破窗——檢控橫過馬路、禁止有垃圾的火車離開車廠等。小修小補，卻清晰可見，市民逐漸相信政府改善市容的決心，更令當局推行改變獲得市民支持。

同樣，要社會支持固體垃圾徵費，政府必先改善現時的垃圾處理，重建市民的信心，以行動說服社會大眾垃圾分類的勞力定不徒然。

首要工作是完善收集垃圾及可回收物資的設施。當中許多都殘破不堪，或容量太小以致有垃圾棄於四周，引來動物覓食及害蟲滋生。政府的待辦事項還包括加速清理垃圾筒及回收箱、在24小時內收集垃圾筒及收集站的垃圾、給予清潔工人經濟誘因，以政府1823程式的GPS定位舉報非法棄置黑點、確保從回收箱收集到的垃圾會分開處理等等。 

以上簡單舉措無一需要龐大經支經費，長遠卻能重拾社會信心，為將來推動垃圾徵費打下一支強心針。

(立場新聞2019年7月31日連結:室有窪徑尺 )