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Recycling and waste reduction

Recycling and waste reduction
Latest news and analysis about the recycling and reduction of waste materials, particularly of plastics, water, paper, metals and e-waste.
Capsule toy vending machines, known in Japan as gachapon, have become popular outside the country. This and other popular physical gambling-like products should be more strictly regulated. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong can regulate video game loot boxes by enforcing its laws

Readers discuss how to tackle gambling-like products, support for working mothers, Hong Kong’s tourism revival, and promoting recycling.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Single-use alternatives to plastic distract from real solutions

History

Then & Now | Trash talk: Hong Kong’s surprising history of recycling

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | After a year’s delay, Hong Kong is ready to roll out waste charging

Readers discuss the favourable conditions for implementing waste charging, the addictive nature of gaming, and making medical care more comfortable.

A resident takes plastic bottles to the Green@Community recycling collection point at Shek Lei Estate in Kwai Ching on January 9. Photo: Jelly Tse
Architecture and design

In Hong Kong, Editecture creates sustainable designs for brands like L’Occitane

‘Turning waste to wonder’ is the motto driving design firm Editecture’s sustainability projects – here’s how they give plastics new purpose.

Architecture and design

I started a sustainable furniture brand in Hong Kong. Here’s what I learned

In 2014, interior architect Caroline Olah founded her furniture brand with a commitment to responsible design. She recounts what happened when she saw the wood – not just the trees.

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Environment

Your clothes are shedding bits of plastic. Here’s what to do about it

Plastic fibres are common in many kinds of clothing, but most current washing machines are ill-equipped to filter them – and it’s having a devastating effect on the environment.

Rachael Z. Miller, founder of the Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, conducts a tape test on clothing items to compare how much each material sheds microfibres. Photo: AP
Architecture and design

The designer and ex-engineer for Nasa turning eggshells into lamps

Dilara Kan and Bodin Hon of Studio Yellowdot are crafting bold, beautiful household objects from ‘a month of breakfasts’.

Hong Kong environmental issues

70 Hong Kong retailers allegedly sold oxo-degradable plastics despite ban: NGO

Green Earth says investigation suggests plastic bags, bin liners and pet waste bags labelled as ‘oxo-degradable’ had been sold by retailers.

Fashion

A ban on binning textiles means Sweden’s recycling centres are overflowing

Mountains of clothes piling up in Swedish recycling centres are sparking calls for fashion firms to take responsibility for textile waste.

A worker sorts clothing at Artikel2’s sorting centre in Stockholm. Mountains of clothes piling up in Swedish recycling centres has sparked calls for firms to take responsibility for textile waste. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Hong Kong must keep up the fight against litterbugs

Heavy penalties have had a deterrent effect but much more needs to be done not only to attract visitors but more importantly to boost civic pride.

Hong Kong is clamping down on littering. Photo: Eugene Lee
India

Samsung, Hitachi fight Modi over costly e-waste recycling policy

New rules require certain manufacturers to pay significantly more to recycle air conditioners, refrigerators, TVs and other appliances.

India

Letters | Why India is both world’s happiest place and No 118 behind Ukraine

Readers discuss the widely varying results of different global happiness surveys, Duterte’s arrest by the ICC, and waste reduction at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Indonesia

‘The sooner, the better’: Bali governor wants island waste-free by 2027

A sustainable waste management facility which can convert rubbish to energy is in the works for the resort island.

Workers clean up a river filled with rubbish in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Photo: EPA-EFE
Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Use of plastic bags to fill holes on Hong Kong beach a travesty

Readers discuss contractors’ actions on a Lantau beach, and a reclamation project in Tseung Kwan O.

Workers clean Upper Cheung Sha Beach on Lantau island on May 28, 2024. Photo: Eugene Lee
Malaysia

Fast fashion: food waste from Malaysian Ramadan bazaars hits the runway

A food waste-reduction group collected over 46,000kg of unsold food over the first two weeks of Ramadan this year, but said the actual wastage was likely to be much higher.

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Mainland China

Video | China’s 315 gala: a night of scandals

Watched by up to a billion people, CCTV’s 315 Gala highlights consumer rights abuses in China.

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Coronavirus pandemic

Chinese cities call for bids to dismantle and recycle makeshift Covid hospitals

Items listed on auction inventories reportedly include prefabricated containers, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, beds and computers.

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In cities around China, fangcang, or makeshift hospitals put up during the pandemic, are being removed. Over the past two years, hundreds have been transformed or dismantled. Phone: Xinhua
Hong Kong environmental issues

Doubts raised over introduction of plastic recycling scheme in Hong Kong

Lack of monetary incentive and long timeline to achieve goals cited as major issues of newly proposed citywide plan.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Hong Kong shouldn’t water down its producer responsibility scheme

Readers discuss the city’s plan to encourage recycling of drink containers, the financial secretary’s attempt to reduce the budget deficit, and the need to reconsider local agriculture.

India

Video | New Delhi pledges to flatten rubbish mountain

Delhi environment minister said waste at the Bhalswa dump ‘will be reduced to a point where it will no longer be visible’ from a distance by 2026  

New Delhi vows to flatten monster garbage pile
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Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Strong incentives and convenience can spell success for recycling in Hong Kong

The recycling scheme is worth pursuing, but authorities must heed warnings that rebate and implementation proposals may miss the mark.

The government estimates its proposed recycling scheme could take up to eight years to fully implement. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong needs ‘more aggressive’ recycling targets for drinks cartons

Lawmakers urge government to set more ambitious targets under proposed scheme requiring drink suppliers to help with recycling containers.

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Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Hong Kong’s latest plastic bottle recycling plan could be more ambitious

Readers discuss the proposed producer responsibility legislative framework, and the transport concession for the elderly.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong plan for recycling beverage containers draws criticism

Environmentalists and residents say 10 HK cent rebate is too little to motivate people to recycle.

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The government intends to introduce the amendments to the relevant ordinances in the second quarter of this year, Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong environmental issues

Greenpeace calls for reusable cup system at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park

Group urges government to spend HK$10 million on system after finding main stadium alone may generate 1.2 million disposable items in a year.

Greenpeace’s call for a reusable cup system comes on the back of a rugby event at Kai Tak Sports Park at which spectators were not allowed to bring in their own water bottles. Photo: Sam Tsang
Business of climate change

JD.com-backed gadget platform banks on China’s trade-in subsidy to spur volume

ATRenew, China’s largest platform for pre-owned electronics, is offering trade-in incentives to coincide with the Lunar New Year holiday.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Authorities start removing illegal clothes recycling bins from Hong Kong streets

‘Placing clothes recycling bins on government land without any approval by the Home Affairs Department constitutes unlawful occupation,’ Lands Department says.

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