Tap Hong Kong’s public markets as recycling points under new Environment and Ecology Bureau 綠在食環街市 – 由香港仔街市做起
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[新聞稿 Press Release] 2025年須全面禁膠餐具 切勿「走塑」變「走數」 10環團籲公眾提交意見書 Ban Single-use Plastic Tableware by 2025
[Text only available in Chinese]
2025年須全面禁膠餐具 切勿「走塑」變「走數」 10環團籲公眾提交意見書
（2021年8月16日 新聞稿） 10個環團今日聯合發佈《堂食及外賣即棄餐具派發量調查》（下稱調查）及《「外賣走塑」研究》（下稱民調）的研究結果，前者推算出快餐店年派過5億件即棄膠餐具，當中有過半仍未納入政府早前推出的「管制即棄餐具計劃」[1]的第一階段，受規管的日子遙遙無期，恐「走塑」變「走數」；另外，民調結果則指出，市民大多同意政府規定食肆不能向顧客免費提供即棄塑膠餐具，評分高達5.21分（7分為非常同意）。
Trash Talk- waste charging scheme 電台訪問：垃圾徵費條例
Paul Zimmerman: ‘… recycling materials are not high value but they are high cost once they get into the waste system. The landfills are full. Do we need new landfill? If yes, then where is the land? Is it going to be country parks? People don’t realize waste charging has lots of implications …’
司馬文：回收物的價值不高，但它們一旦進入廢物鏈或堆填區，它們的成本卻很高。堆填區快將滿。我們需要新的堆填區嗎？如果是，那土地來源哪裏來？是郊野公園嗎？很多人沒有意識到垃圾徵費其實隱含着極大的意義……
https://podcast.rthk.hk/podcast/item.php?pid=1432&lang=zh-CN
Support waste charging and improve municipal solid waste management
Please join our Petition: https://www.supporthk.org/?petition=lets-improve-our-municipal-solid-waste-management&lang=en
徵費、源頭分類、回收
三大元素，決一不可
要有效解決每日人均垃圾棄置量，請聯署支持垃圾徵費
https://www.supporthk.org/?petition=%E6%94%B9%E5%96%84%E9%83%BD%E5%B8%82%E5%9B%BA%E9%AB%94%E5%BB%A2%E7%89%A9%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86
Support waste charging and improve municipal solid waste management 支持修訂垃圾徵費條例草案，改善城市固體廢物管理
Waste Levy, Source Separation, Recycling – 3 elements, not one less.
We urge the Government to consider the suggested key actions in 2020 Policy Address with the aims of improving and support the municipal solid waste management and recycling in Hong Kong.
Please sign our petition so we can reduce the volume of daily disposal of garbage.
徵費、源頭分類、回收
三大元素，決一不可
我們敦促政府通過廢物回收和公眾教育，支持修訂垃圾徵費條例草案，改善城市固體廢物管理。
要有效解決每日人均垃圾棄置量，請支持聯署
區議員聯署：https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfolxAs44alWP0_dRCEAg_HS9gLB5s9MJA_sMXHDLqYr0LkA/viewform
聯署支持修訂垃圾徵費條例草案，改善都市固體廢物管理 Let’s approve municipal solid waste charging
徵費、源頭分類、回收
三大元素，決一不可
議員聯署：https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfolxAs44alWP0_dRCEAg_HS9gLB5s9MJA_sMXHDLqYr0LkA/viewform
公眾聯署：https://www.supporthk.org/?petition=%E6%94%B9%E5%96%84%E9%83%BD%E5%B8%82%E5%9B%BA%E9%AB%94%E5%BB%A2%E7%89%A9%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86
政府曾在2013年制定目標，務求「在2022年將每日人均垃圾棄置量減至0.8公斤」。然而，垃圾棄置量不跌反升，更在2018年創新紀錄，每日人均垃圾棄置量達到1.53公斤。現有的回收計劃無法提高回收量，例如PET膠樽的出口回收率從8.5％（2016）大幅降至0.23％（2018）。三個戰略性堆填區面臨巨大壓力，並快將於2020年代末飽和。如果再不採取行動減少都市固體廢物，我們可能只靠覓地，以容納更多焚化爐或興建第四個堆填區，甚至犧牲郊野公園土地。屆時，我們需要作出更具政治敏感的決策。
垃圾徵費是政府回收塑膠和廚餘等廢物的相關政策的關鍵。回收、源頭分類和徵費是解決都市固體廢物的三大重要元素，決一不可。對比其他司法管轄區，香港的垃圾管理已大大落後。以往很多相關政策措施都是空談。延遲推出垃圾徵費將帶來不可想像的後果。如果垃圾徵費未能在來年施政處理，則只能在3-5年後重提。都市固體廢物將無法重大改善。
為改善香港的都市固體廢物管理，政府需採取以下的策略：
1. 應用策略於每種香港都市固體廢物 (立法會資料研究組，2019年): 廚餘 (34％)、廢紙 (24％)、塑膠垃圾 (20％) 和其他垃圾 (23％)；
2. 應用「污者自付」、「源頭分類」 和 「生產者責任計劃」三大政策工具及理念，以解決都市固體廢物問題；
3. 每年撥款約8 至10 億元支持本地回收業，推動不同的減廢及回收措施；
4. 把垃圾徵費所得的資金用於本地回收業，達至可持續發展；
在採取垃圾徵費同時，創建香港建議以下廚餘和塑膠回收的相關措施：
立法規管和增加設施，以支持回收和廢物管理：
1. 將廚餘回收網絡擴展至全港18個區的食環署垃圾收集站和公屋；
2. 向各區私人屋苑提供資源、經濟誘因和定期維修服務，並為承辦商員工提供培訓，以達至可持續廚餘回收；
3. 投資廚餘回收技術，為回收業創造更多職位空缺，例如物流運輸和技術支援；
4. 提升公民減廢意識，教育公眾分類廚餘；
塑膠回收
1. 擴展「塑膠可回收物料回收服務先導計劃」至全港18區，推動公眾進行回收；
2. 就即棄膠樽實施生產者責任制；
3. 檢管即棄餐具；
4. 禁止在個人護理產品中使用微塑膠；
5. 禁止使用發泡膠盒;
6. 檢管食品過度包裝；
7. 檢視現有的公共飲水機的衛生情況，務求在肺炎疫情下，巿民能安心使用飲水機，並建立公共飲水機網絡。
Let’s approve municipal solid waste charging
Waste Levy, Source Separation, Recycling – 3 elements, not one less
DC/LC member petition: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfolxAs44alWP0_dRCEAg_HS9gLB5s9MJA_sMXHDLqYr0LkA/viewform
Public Petition: https://www.supporthk.org/?petition=lets-improve-our-municipal-solid-waste-management&lang=en
Background
In 2013, the government set the goal of ‘reducing the volume of daily disposal of garbage per capita to 0.8 kg in 2022’. Yet, per capita daily disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to increase every year. A record high of 1.53kg was reached in 2018. Under the current programs, recycling fails to improve. For example the export recycling rate of PET bottles fell from 8.5% (2016) to 0.23% (2018). Our three strategic landfills are under pressure and are about to saturate this decade. If nothing more is done to reduce MSW, we may have to explore new sites for incinerators or landfills. This would likely impact our country parks. Once the landfills are full, it will be politically difficult to stop this from happening.
The MSW Bill enabling charging is the linchpin in government’s waste policy and projects. Waste levies are important in promoting source separation of domestic waste and the successful expansion of our recycling capacity. Without waste charging, the separation and reduction of waste and the recovery of useful materials for recycling will fail. Hong Kong’s waste reduction management is already lagging behind other jurisdictions. Many policy initiatives have turned into broken promises. The delay of the waste charging bill will make it ever more difficult to achieve high levels of recycling. If the Bill is not dealt with within this term of government, the Bill will be delayed by 3-5 years. This unacceptable.
Improving Hong Kong’s municipal solid waste management requires key actions in the Policy Address:
- Strategies to address all types of municipal solid waste in Hong Kong (LegCo research paper, 2019): food waste (34%), paper waste (24%), plastic waste (20%) and others (23%);
- Reconfirm the principles: Polluters Pay, Source Separation of Waste, and Producers’ Responsibility;
- Allocate HKD 800-1000 million for waste reduction and recycling; and
- Apply the funds generated from waste charging in support of the recycling industry.
Implement legislation, regulations and infrastructure in support of recycling and waste management:
- Extend the collection network of food waste collection across 18 districts, to all FEHD Refuse Collection Point and public housing estates;
- Allocate resources and financial incentives for maintenance and contractor staff training for food waste collection in all private housing estates;
- Invest in food waste technology and create more jobs in recycling industry, e.g. logistic and technical support for food waste collection services;
- Educate the public on waste reduction and separation of food waste.
Plastic waste recycling
- Extend the pilot schemes of plastic collection to all 18 districts to provide convenience to the public;
- Implement the producer responsibility system for beverage (disposable) containers;
- Retrofit and expand public water dispensers for hygienic and COVID-proof bottle refilling;
- Regulate disposable tableware;
- Regulation of excessive packaging of food products;
- Ban the use of styrofoam and microplastic in personal care products
Topside development on XRL – Survey Result
We conducted a public opinion survey between September 28th to October 6th regarding the captioned application. 143 people submitted their responses.
The majority of the respondents objected expressing concerns over the relaxation of building height restrictions, deteriorating air ventilation, urban heat island effect, daylight access and visual intrusion.
By Friday Oct 9, please submit your comments to Town Planning Board at https://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/tc/plan_application/A_K20_133.html
廣深港高速鐵路西九龍總站用地
擬議辦公室、商業及零售發展並放寬建築物高度限制 (申請編號: A/K20/133)
9月28日至10月6日我們就以上題目，進行了公眾諮詢，並共有143人提交了回覆。
大部分受訪者表示反對放寬建築物高度限制，擔心會令空氣不流通，加劇城市熱島效應，影響日光和視覺效果。
請在10月9日之前向城市規劃委員會發表意見，或加入條件限制。你的意見可能會影響最終建築設計，從而改善社區發展。
- 62.94% of the respondents objected to the reflective exterior glass surface as it creates a glare which impairs the enjoyment of neighboring residents including particularly The Waterfront and The Austin. The glare may also impact nearby traffic. Solar reflections also raise temperatures and may impact vegetation nearby. Concerns were expressed over energy consumption for air-conditioning. The design is deemed does not match with the surrounding buildings.
- 71.33% of respondents are concerned over traffic impacts along Nga Cheung Road, Jordan Road and Canton Road. The proposed scheme proposed no less than 550 parking spaces for private cars. With the increase in parking spaces here and the car park at To Wah Road together with other developments in the area as well as new road connections such as the Central Kowloon Route, it is unclear whether the traffic burden exceeds capacity. Traffic congestion (and associated blaring of car horns) is experienced often in the area including along Jordan Road.
- 70.63% of respondents are concerned over the relaxation of building heights and the close distance between The Waterfront and XRL topside development. Such building structure would disturb daylight access, visual quality and air ventilation to inner area in Jordan.
- 76.22% of people object to relaxing height limit as this will set a bad precedent for nearby sites including future buildings at the WKCD. This application will set a precedent for others to change height restrictions. Respondents wonder if there is any justification of relaxing height limit after developers won bids for a site. Moreover, there is no compensation for the losses suffered by nearby residents. The gain would be simply for the developer at the cost of the neighbours.
- Although it is claimed that the proposed design has better air ventilation than the original scheme, 71.33% of respondents are concerned over the impact of having less fresh air and that pollutants residue in the community. It must be noted that the developer has failed to meet and consult the neighbours on the proposed plans.
- 49.65% of the respondents are worried over food and beverage related noise control at site, and the absence of clear operating guidelines on the use of facilities and time control of activities at the catering and commercial facilities (64.34%).
- 81.82% of the respondents are concerning over delivery of the promised public space. The promised public spaces are absent from the land lease conditions and may not be delivered. As seen throughout Hong Kong, what is promised in terms of public gains including public space, accessibility, public recreation, alfresco dining, etc, fails to be delivered. What controls will be applied by the Town Planning Board to ensure promised made are delivered?
- 86.71% of the respondents are upset with the lack of consultation and the failure to present and discuss the plans with nearby residents. Residents received insufficient information regarding the revised plans. Public consultation should have been conducted to provide clear information and to gain a better understanding. Moreover, the developer should introduce and discuss the proposal with the District Council before the deadline for comments under the Town Planning Ordinance for the captioned application.
- In the survey conducted, there is a demand for assessment of sustainability performance in terms of creating a ‘public realm’ which delivers a holistic and positive impact for occupants and neighbours. Reference is made to HKGBC BEAM Plus Neighborhood. More than 70% of respondents suggest civic spaces to be used by non-profit organizations for community activities (76.92%), promoting gender equality by introducing ‘Gender Mainstreaming checklist’ into the design and construction of the development (70.63%), and by adopting pet-friendly (78.32%) and bicycle-friendly measures (77.62%) for the site as well as the connections with the West Kowloon Cultural District to Jordan, Yau Ma Tei and Tai Kwok Tsui.
- 93.01% of respondents support environmental protection initiatives, such as energy saving, water use and reuse, using recyclable building materials, installing waste management and treatment facilities, etc. To implement initiatives to improve energy efficiency, environmental performance and achieving Government’s energy saving plan by 2025, all new development should have set goal to achieve HKGBC Beam Plus.
飲品業龍頭企業與非政府組織攜手減廢 目標回收七至九成飲品包裝Leading drink companies together with NGOs target 70%-90% recovery of used beverage packaging
飲品業龍頭企業與非政府組織攜手減廢 目標回收七至九成飲品包裝
• 去年，超過八成飲品包裝，即超過17億個容器遭棄掉浪費。
• 「免『廢』暢飲」行動支持推行廢包裝現金回贈計劃及及安裝飲水/品機。
• 促請香港特區政府規管包裝標準，並為回收工作提供支援。
• 飲料行業將採取自願措施減少垃圾。
2018年12月6日，香港：佔本港樽裝水和汽水近半銷售額的主要飲料生產商和裝瓶商，今天聯同主要連鎖零售商、回收業界及非政府組織，聯合宣佈其減少超過17億經使用及廢棄飲品容器的建議，以減低本地垃圾堆填區、郊野、海灘和海洋環境的壓力。去年，香港的PET樽回收率為9%，而紙包飲品盒的回收率更為0%。
一次性飲品包裝工作小組（下稱「小組」）在香港成立，旨在減少從非酒精飲品消耗所產生的廢物。該工作小組在去年十二月正式啟動免「廢」暢飲行動，推動本港達致七成至九成 PET容器及紙包飲品盒回收率為目標。小組深信，只要政府、生產商、零售商、回收商以至消費者能通力合作，上述回收率增長可在2025年或之前得以實現。
綠惜地球創辦人及總幹事、免「廢」暢飲行動發言人劉祉鋒先生表示：「我們所有人都有責任。每當我們把一次性飲料容器棄置在堆填區或大自然，環境都會遭受損害。」
劉先生續道：「我們的目標是減少使用一次性飲料包裝，而在無法避免的情況下，以財政誘因鼓勵回收包裝，從而提高回收率。香港還需要建立高效的PET樽和紙包飲品盒回收機制，以及透過法規確保包裝的質量，並加強公眾教育。」
減少飲料消耗所產生廢物的策略和行動
小組向生產商、進口商、零售商、廢物管理服務商、消費者和香港特區政府提出四項主要建議：減少一次性飲料容器、規管包裝標準、加強回收，以及循環再用經使用的飲品包裝。
無塑海洋總監Dana Winograd女士表示：「我們支持在香港創造一個讓消費者能在任何地方恆常地用自備的水樽和杯子添飲水、汽水和其他飲料的環境。」
香港鐵路有限公司持續發展事務主管鄭聲謙先生同意上述觀點：「我們已在東涌站和香港西九龍站安裝了飲水機，同時我們會繼續監察此計劃的使用情況和成效。」
香港機場管理局可持續發展助理總經理吳敏（Mike Kilburn）先生表示：「香港國際機場擁有本港其中一個最大的飲水機和熱水機網絡。截至2018年，香港機場管理局已在整個航站樓的13個地點安裝了104部飲水機和23部熱水機，深受乘客和我們的員工歡迎，是使用一次性塑料容器裝載飲料的免費替代品。有關飲水機和熱水機位置的資訊已載於『我的航班』應用程式和其他非政府組織平台。我們很樂意與其他有興趣安裝飲水機和熱水機的機構分享我們的經驗。」
小組嚮應政府呼籲推出現金回贈計劃，以提升PET樽回收率。小組建議將這類計劃擴展到其他包裝，包括紙包飲品盒。目前，本港經使用金屬罐的回收率為85%，反映以經濟誘因可有效提升回收率。小組建議向生產商和進口商徵費，從而補貼現金回贈計劃，並資助物流成本以及本地回收業。
據小組稱，把PET樽和紙包飲品盒的物料統一的法規有助將經使用的包裝加工成有價值的原料，如PET和紙張，並應用於新包裝和其他產品。
太古可口可樂香港董事兼總經理，以及香港飲品商會會長利偉達（Neil Waters）先生表示：「我們非常重視可持續發展。我們不斷重新設計包裝，包括大幅減少PET樽中的塑料重量，使產品包裝百分百可回收。我們將於2019年底前全面轉用百分百循環再造的PET生產所有Bonaqua礦物質水包裝。另外，我們亦將於全港推出300部Bonaqua加水站，支持「自備水樽」。我們將積極尋求再進一步的所有可能性。」 其他主要飲料生產商亦作出類似的承諾。屈臣氏實業飲品製造市務總經理于德超先生表示：「我們自2015年開始一直自發轉用100%再生PET物料作產品包裝，不僅減少生產、使用和浪費塑料，還有助於減低碳排放量。」
維他奶香港行政總裁兼香港飲品商會副主席劉盛雪女士說：「維他奶香港支持「免『廢』暢飲」活動。與公司「可持續增長」營運模式一致，我們正致力於膠樽及紙盒包裝的工作。對於膠樽，除了已實行及持續減輕重量，設置「飲品容器環保回收機」收集廢棄膠樽及蒸餾水環保補水站支持「自備水樽」行動，我們現致力於2019/20年度試行採用循環再造的PET膠樽。在紙盒方面，我們正與供應商及相關回收商聯繫，探討合作在香港進行紙盒包裝回收處理。」
劉祉鋒指出，2018年起生效的中國內地執行廢物進口禁令改變了香港和世界各地的回收做法。他表示：「嚴重依賴向中國內地和其他經濟體出口可回收材料不再是解決方法，香港必須建造先進的回收設施以處理本地產生的廢物。這有助香港發展循環經濟，並幫助我城實現可持續發展。」
特區政府於土地和物流上的支援，對控制回收成本和及早達致七成至九成包裝回收率的目標攸關重要。
關於免「廢」暢飲
免「廢」暢飲行動展示了業界人士和環保團體共同解決環境問題的可能性。自2017年12月，飲料生產商、裝瓶商、零售商、回收商及非政府機構組成一次性飲品包裝工作小組以來，該小組一直致力制訂策略和行動，減少本港從消耗飲料產生的廢物。
一次性飲料包裝工作小組主席司馬文（Paul Zimmerman）先生表示：「我們均知道一次性包裝無論在設計、使用，抑或在回收各方面都需要進行徹底改變。我們建議的策略和行動，對香港來說是務實而且共融的。為達致九成飲品包裝的減廢目標，所有持份者，包括業界、公眾和特區政府必須通力合作，盡量減低對消費者價格、選擇和便利程度的影響。」
該小組成員包括香港機場管理局、屈臣氏集團、牛奶有限公司，香港上海大酒店有限公司、香港鐵路有限公司、無塑海洋、太古飲料有限公司、維他奶國際集團有限公司、世界自然基金會香港分會及其他主要市場參與者。
小組委託德勤咨詢（香港）有限公司聯同Cistri Limited進行一項全面研究，以尋找和評估適用於本港的有效方案，管理一次性密封容器產生的飲品包裝垃圾。研究結果在本立場書的撰寫過程中提供了重要資訊。
小組的立場書詳細介紹了策略和行動，已載於：https://drinkwithoutwaste.org/drink-without-waste-resources/。
請瀏覽免『廢』暢飲網站（www.drinkwithoutwaste.org）支持行動。
（由左至右）：德勤(香港)風險咨詢總監翁介中先生、綠惜地球創辦人及總幹事兼一次性飲品包裝工作小組發言人劉祉鋒先生、一次性飲品包裝工作小組主席司馬文先生及香港飲品商會主席利偉達先生。
(from left to right): Mr. Herbert Yung, Director, Risk Advisory, Deloitte Advisory (Hong Kong); Mr. Edwin Lau, Founder and Executive Director, The Green Earth, Hong Kong and Spokesperson for Drink Without Waste; Mr. Paul Zimmerman, Chairman of the Single-Use Beverage Packing Working Group; and Mr. Neil Waters, President of the Hong Kong Beverage Association.
Leading drink companies together with NGOs target 70%-90% recovery of used beverage packaging
• Over 80% of beverage packaging, or over 1.7 billion containers, were wasted last year.
• The Drink Without Waste initiative supports cash-on-return of used packaging and the installation of refill dispensers.
• The HKSAR government is urged to regulate packaging standards and provide support for recycling.
• The beverage industry will take voluntary measures to reduce waste.
Hong Kong, 6 December 2018: Hong Kong’s leading beverage producers and bottlers, representing nearly half of all the bottled water and soft drinks sold in the city, together with major retailers, recyclers and NGOs, today announce their proposals to reduce the over 1.7 billion used and discarded beverage containers that end up in Hong Kong’s landfills, countryside, beaches and the marine environment. Last year, recovery rates in Hong Kong were at 9% for PET and 0% for liquid cartons.
The Single-Use Beverage Packaging Working Group was formed to help reduce the waste generated from non-alcoholic beverage consumption in Hong Kong. They launched the Drink Without Waste initiative in December last year and now pledge to work towards 70%-90% recovery rates for PET containers and liquid cartons in Hong Kong. They believe that with all parties – government, producers, retailers, recyclers and consumers – working closely together, this increase could be achieved by 2025.
“We all are responsible. We harm the environment when we dispose of single-use beverage containers at our landfills and in the natural environment,” said Edwin Lau Che-feng, Founder and Executive Director of The Green Earth, Hong Kong and spokesperson for Drink Without Waste.
“Our aim is to reduce single-use beverage packaging and, where this is not possible, to increase the recycling rate of packaging with financial incentives. This is to encourage return and collection. Hong Kong also needs to develop efficient recycling for PET bottles and liquid cartons, ensure the quality of used packaging through legislation, and increase public education.”
Strategies and actions to reduce waste from beverage consumption
The group is making four major recommendations to producers, importers, retailers, waste management services, consumers and the HKSAR government: to reduce single-use beverage containers, to regulate packaging standards, to recover used packaging, and to recycle them.
“We support creating an environment in Hong Kong, where consumers routinely refill their own bottles and cups from dispensers for water, soft drinks and other beverages throughout the city,” said Dana Winograd, Director of Plastic Free Seas.
Simeon Cheng, Head of Sustainability at MTR Corporation Limited echoed this view: “We have installed water dispensers in Tung Chung Station and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, and we are continuing to monitor the usage and effectiveness of our programme.”
Mike Kilburn, Assistant General Manager, Sustainability at the Airport Authority Hong Kong, said: “HKIA has one of the largest networks of drinking fountains and hot water dispensers in Hong Kong. As of 2018, Airport Authority Hong Kong has installed 104 drinking fountains and 23 hot water dispensers in 13 locations throughout the terminal buildings. These fountains and hot water dispensers provide a welcome amenity and a free alternative to drinks served in single use plastic beverage containers to the passengers and staff travelling through and working at HKIA. Information about the locations of our drinking fountains and hot water dispensers is available through the “HKG MyFlight” app and other NGO platforms. We would be delighted to share our experience with others who may be interested to deploy drinking fountains and hot water dispensers of their own.”
The group supports the HKSAR government call for cash-on-return schemes to increase recovery rates of plastic bottles. The group proposes that these schemes are extended to other packaging, including liquid cartons. Currently the recovery rates for used metal cans in Hong Kong is 85%, demonstrating the effectiveness of a monetary value. The group proposes that a levy should be collected from producers and importers to cover the cost of cash-on-return schemes and to help subsidise logistics and local recycling.
According to the group, regulations to homogenise all plastic bottles and liquid cartons allows used packaging to be processed into valuable feedstock such as PET and paper for new packaging and other products.
“We take sustainability seriously,” said Neil Waters, Director and General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong and President of the Hong Kong Beverage Association. “We continuously reengineer our packaging, including significantly cutting the amount of plastic in our bottles and making our packaging 100% recyclable. Through 2019 we will complete the conversion of all our ‘Bonaqua’ Mineralized Water packaging to 100% rPET. In addition, we will launch 300 Bonaqua water stations across Hong Kong to promote the Bring Your Own Bottle initiative. We will continue to search out all possible opportunities to do more.”
Other major drink producers are also making similar commitments. “We have voluntarily taken steps to transform our packaging to 100% recycled PET material since 2015,” said Edmond Yu, General Manager – Marketing of A.S. Watson Industries. “This not only reduces the production, use and wastage of plastic, but also helps with cutting carbon emissions.” “Vitasoy Hong Kong supports the Drink Without Waste initiative. Consistently with our Company’s sustainable growth model, we are working on both plastic and carton packaging. For plastics, beyond having implemented and continuing weight reduction, installing Reverse Vending Machines to collect used bottles and Water Refilling machines to support the Bring Your Own Bottle initiative, we are working on enabling recycled PET pilots in our 2019/20 fiscal year. For carton, we are engaging our suppliers and relevant recyclers to collaborate on carton pack collection and recycling in Hong Kong,” said Dorcas Lau, CEO of Vitasoy Hong Kong and Vice President of the Hong Kong Beverage Association.
According to Edwin Lau, the waste import restrictions launched by mainland China since 2018 have changed the recycling practices in Hong Kong and around the world. “Relying heavily on exporting recyclable materials to the mainland and other economies is no longer a solution,” he said. “Hong Kong has to build state-of-the-art recycling facilities to take care of our own waste. This in turn will help develop a circular economy and help our city become sustainable.”
Land and logistic support from the HKSAR government are considered essential to controlling the cost of recycling and to achieving the goal of between 70% and 90% recovery of packaging early.
About Drink Without Waste
The Drink Without Waste initiative demonstrates how industry players and environmental groups can work together to tackle environmental issues. Since December 2017, the Single-Use Beverage Packaging Working Group, a broad coalition of drink producers, bottlers, retailers, recyclers and NGOs, has been working to develop strategies and actions to reduce waste from the consumption of beverages in Hong Kong.
“We all know there needs to be wholesale change in the ways we design, use and recycle single-use packaging,” said Paul Zimmerman, Chairman of the Single-Use Beverage Packing Working Group. “The strategies and actions we recommend are meant to be pragmatic and inclusive for Hong Kong. To stop 90% of beverage packaging from going to waste, all stakeholders including the industry, general public and the HKSAR government, will need to work together closely to limit impacts on consumer price, choice and convenience.”
Members of the group include Airport Authority of Hong Kong, A.S. Watson Group, Dairy Farm Company Limited, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited, MTR Corporation Limited, Plastic Free Seas Limited, Swire Beverages Limited, Vitasoy International Holdings Limited, WWF-Hong Kong and other key players.
The group commissioned Deloitte Advisory (Hong Kong) Limited, together with Cistri Limited, to carry out a comprehensive study to identify and evaluate how to effectively manage waste from single-use sealed beverage containers in Hong Kong. The findings informed the development of a positioning paper published by the group.
小組的立場書詳細介紹了策略和行動，已載於：
https://drinkwithoutwaste.org/drink-without-waste-resources/
請瀏覽免『廢』暢飲網站（www.drinkwithoutwaste.org）支持行動。
有害醫療廢料再現香港 市民健康繼續受嚴重威脅 Dangerous and harmful medical waste found on HK’s beaches continues to put people at risk
有害醫療廢料再現香港 市民健康繼續受嚴重威脅
有害的醫療廢料繼續污染香港的水質和海灘，並對香港市民的健康安全造成巨大威脅。
今天創建香港行政總裁司馬文先生，居民Moran Zukerman，無塑海洋行政總裁Tracey Read及梁嘉麗小姐於政府總部外再次展示在大嶼山海灘收集的大量醫療及化學廢料，並呈交環境保護署進行調查。
這是第三次，亦是三次內最多醫療廢料數量供環境保護署進行調查。在信中，他們強烈要求環境保護署正視問題，並盡快作出相關調查及採取行動。在去年七月十二日及十二月六日，志願者已先後拾獲並向政府轉交大批醫療及化學廢料，可惜環境保護署仍未就我們提交的廢料樣本發表任何調查結果。
有關漂浮在香港的沙灘上針筒和連針針筒事宜，我們已於2008年開始向環境保護署表示關注。居民Moran Zukerman亦於去年開始在大嶼山小型的海灘收集具危險性的醫療廢料。在這十二個月內是第三次收集，當中包括529枝針筒，402枝沒有連針，127枝連針。另外，還發現藥筒，藥瓶和藥袋，有些物品甚至有被魚咬過的痕跡。居民Moran表示:「政府有聘請承包商清理海灘，但我卻發現越來越多的醫療廢料。我並不是要清理海灘，而是希望調查其來源並訂立預防措施，防止醫療廢料在我們的海洋漂浮。」
無塑海洋行政總裁Tracey Read表示:「有些藥物好像是來自中國內地，其他明顯是來自香港。香港特區政府需要與廣東進行跨部門合作，調查醫療廢料的來源和其性質，並建立處理於中國內地和香港非法棄置的危險醫療的廢料，阻止廢料流入環境是極為重要的。」
要制止不當棄置本地藥物及使用過的針筒，政府需制定和促進一個回收藥物的計劃及建立便利的棄置使用過針筒設施。政府可與公營及私營的醫療機構合作，提供回收箱分類收集使用過的針筒和不需要的藥物。
7個月內所收集的醫療廢料
Collected medical waste within 7 months
向環境保護署代表遞交請願信
Letter submission to Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
如需要詳盡資訊，可參考：
2016年7月12日的新聞稿：https://goo.gl/42p5DX
2016年12月6日的新聞稿：https://goo.gl/3kGZSB
Dangerous and harmful medical waste found on HK’s beaches continues to put people at risk
Hazardous medical waste continues to pollute Hong Kong’s water and beaches. The waste poses a huge risk to the health and safety of tourists and Hong Kong people.
Today, Designing Hong Kong’s CEO Paul Zimmerman, Moran Zukerman, a local resident, and Plastic Free Seas’ CEO Tracey Read and Julia Leung again submitted a large amount of medical and chemical waste retrieved from a Lantau beach to the Environmental Protection Department.
It is the third and largest delivery of medical waste to the EPD for investigation. In a letter they seriously urged EPD to take follow-up action. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has yet to publish the investigation outcomes after large amounts of medical and chemical waste were collected and delivered to the government on 12th July 2016 and 6th December 2016 respectively.
Reports of syringes and needles washing up on beaches all over Hong Kong have been lodged since 2008. To show the scale of the issue Mr Zukerman has concentrated his efforts on collecting dangerous medical waste from one small Lantau beach since last year. This third delivery in 12 months includes 529 syringes, 402 without needles and 127 syringes with needles. Also included are drug vials, medicine bottles and medicine packets. Some of the items have evidence of bite marks by fish. “Government has hired more contractors for beach cleaning, but I keep finding more medical waste,” Zukerman said. “I don’t want beach cleaning. I want full forensic investigation into potential source points, and preventative strategies to stop medical waste floating in our seas.”
“Some of the medicine looks to be originating from China, others are obviously from Hong Kong,” Plastic Free Seas’ CEO Tracey Read said. “The HKSAR government needs to have an inter-departmental collaboration with Guangdong counterparts to investigate the sources and nature of the waste and establish an action plan to deal with the illegal disposal of hazardous medical and veterinary waste in China and Hong Kong. Preventing the waste from leaking into the environment is of the utmost importance.”
One solution to stop improper disposal of local medicines and used syringes is to facilitate a Hong Kong “take-back” program for unwanted medicines and accessible disposal facilities for used syringes. Government can work with public and private health facilities to provide sharps bins (for used syringes) and containers for unwanted medicines.
More information
Press release on 12thJuly 2016: https://goo.gl/42p5DX
Press release on 6th December 2016: https://goo.gl/3kGZSB
New dangerous medical waste found at HK’s beaches puts residents at risk 新危險醫料廢料襲港，對市民構成嚴重威脅
具危險性的醫療廢物持續污染香港的水質和海灘，對市民的健康及安全構成威脅。
在今年的7月12日，大批由志願者拾獲的醫療廢物已交給環境保護署進行調查，可惜至今仍未收到環境保護署對事件的回覆或發表任何調查結果。
創建香港行政總裁司馬文先生，居民Moran Zukerman及無塑海洋行政總裁Tracey Read今天於政府總部外展示大批於大嶼山海灘拾獲的醫療廢物，並再次交給環境保護署化驗及作進一步的調查。此外，他們更向環境保護署遞交信件，表達對事件的極度關注及促請有關部門盡快展開調查及跟進工作。
是次具危險性的醫療廢料在今年7月至11月於大嶼山海灘拾獲，包括303枝針筒、96枝針筒連針、超過200個玻璃小藥瓶、一枝裝滿疑似血液的試管和大量膠製藥瓶及藥袋等。部份物品更有被魚咬過的痕跡。
由於事態日趨嚴重，我們促請政府盡快成立誇部門小組調查醫療廢物的性質及來源，並設立資料儲存庫和制定行動計劃處理以上違法棄置及具危險性的醫療廢料。
如需要詳盡資訊，可參考2016年7月12日的新聞稿：https://goo.gl/42p5DX
Hazardous medical waste continues to pollute Hong Kong’s water and beaches. The waste threatens the health and safety of local residents.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has yet to respond and publish the investigation outcomes after large amounts of medical waste were collected and delivered to government on 12 July 2016.
Today, Designing Hong Kong’s CEO Paul Zimmerman, Moran Zukerman, a local resident, and Plastic Free Seas’ CEO Tracey Read submitted again a large amount of medical waste retrieved from a Lantau beach to the EPD outside the Central Government Office. In a letter they urged EPD to take follow up action.
The newly found dangerous medical waste collected at one Lantau beach from July – November 2016, includes 303 syringes without needles, 96 syringes with needles, more than 200 drug vials, a collection tube suspected of containing human blood, plastic medicine bottles and packets. Some of the items have evidence of bite marks by fish.
What is now needed is an in-depth inter-departmental investigation into the source and nature of the waste and to establish a database and action plan which deals with the illegal disposal of hazardous medical waste.
The government is urged to act with expediency in response to the medical waste found.
More information
Press release on 12 July 2016: https://goo.gl/42p5DX
大量危險醫療廢料襲港，團體促請政府徹查廢料來源 Dangerous medical waste found at HK’s beaches
大量危險醫療廢料襲港，團體促請政府徹查廢料來源
香港水域時常受大量垃圾污染，此情況在雨季尤其嚴重。上月連場暴雨，大量垃圾沖上沙灘及沿岸地區，造成海洋生態災難。司馬文表示，我們現在需要的，不是行政長官及官員到海邊執垃圾「做show」，而是要更深入認真徹查垃圾的種類及來源，防止廢料繼續污染海港。
創建香港行政總裁司馬文先生、無塑海洋教育項目經理梁嘉麗小姐及居民Moran Zukerman今天展示大批於大嶼山三白灣 (愉景北商場旁) 拾獲的醫療廢料，這些廢料由本年5月起開始收集，經分類及調查後，有明顯證據顯示廢料來自中國廣東省。
這次拾獲的醫療及化學廢料 (抗生素及預防藥物)主要是供人類及牲畜使用，具危險性及可能帶毒性。司馬文把廢料分類及調查後，找到大量藥樽、針筒、膠及玻璃樽、透析包/靜脈注射包、藥丸及完好無損的安瓿。從部份廢料上的牌子及印有的簡體字，明顯證明廢料來自中國廣東省。他更在廢料中找到中國政府交通部官員的工作證件。
大雨或洪水把露天棄置的垃圾沖進河流及海洋是香港及內地存在已久的問題。醫療廢料亦會對市民的健康及安全構成威脅，泳客有機會因踩到針筒而受傷，或造成感染。居港15年的Moran Zukerman表示「醫療廢料問題不只是垃圾問題。一方面，它對海洋及四周環境造成破瓌。另一方面，從部份廢料出現魚類的咬痕可見，人類進食的魚類產品亦可能因此而受到污染，故最終受害的仍然是市民。
梁嘉麗表示，自2013年起，無塑海洋及Green DB一直有向海事處及環境保護署投訴海灘出現醫療廢料的問題，傳媒亦有相關報導。然而，環境保護署的調查一直沒有回音，亦未有針對中港兩地產生廢料的組織的相關行動，彷彿當局不打算處理相關問題。
我們促請政府正視問題，作出相關調查及行動。相關廢料亦會送往環境保護署作進一步化驗及跟進。
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Dangerous medical waste found at HK’s beaches
Large amounts of marine waste washes up at Hong Kong’s beaches regularly, especially during rainy season. Heavy rain fails over the last month has triggered large amounts of waste washing into the seas.
“What is now needed is an in-depth investigation into the type and source of the waste rather than black bag beach cleaning actions,” said Paul Zimmerman.
Paul Zimmerman, CEO of Designing Hong Kong, together with Julia Leung, Program Manager – Education of Plastic Free Seas and Moran Zukerman, a local resident, presented dangerous medical waste found among rubbish collected from a Lantau beach, Sam Pak Wan, since May this year. Many items had definitive markings pointing at locations in the Guangdong Province.
Medical waste collected were for human and veterinarian use (antibiotics and preventative medicine), and many are hazardous and potentially poisonous.
Paul Zimmerman explained: “We sorted and investigated the waste, most of them are vials, syringes, plastic/glass bottles, dialysis bags, medical pills, fully intact glass ampoules. From the brands and simplified Chinese text, it is obviously come from locations in the Guangdong Province. We even found a working pass from a Chinese government transport officer among the waste.”
Open waste dumps are a long standing problem in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. Exposed waste is subject to flooding and washing out to rivers and seas. Hazardous medical waste poses a health risk as beachgoers could injure and infect themselves by stepping on needles. Moran Zukerman, a local resident who has been living in Hong Kong for over 15 years, expressed his concern: “Medical waste is beyond littering, it’s not only harmful to the environment and oceans, but also causes a threat to human beings who consume the fish and many of the medical products shows signs of fish bites who are exposed to those dangerous items, and are eventually consumed by humans.”
Julia Leung explained: “Plastic Free Seas and Green DB have since 2013 reported the medical waste found on beaches to the Marine Department and the Environmental Protection Department. There were also media reports at that time. It is entirely unclear what investigation has been conducted by the EPD into the sources, and what action have been taken to contact the authorities and medical institutions both in Hong Kong and the Mainland.”
“We urge the government to seriously investigate the medical waste we found. The items will be sent to the Environmental Protection Department for investigation and follow up action.”