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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.

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

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.

25 Mar 2025 - 2:30PM

Malaysia

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

20 Mar 2025 - 6:34PMvideocam

Mainland China

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

18 Mar 2025 - 8:54PMvideocam

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.

14 Mar 2025 - 3:43PMvideocam

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.

11 Mar 2025 - 2:09AM

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.

12 Mar 2025 - 2:23PM

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

6 Mar 2025 - 1:44PM

New Delhi vows to flatten monster garbage pile

02:21

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.

2 Mar 2025 - 6:00AM

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.

25 Feb 2025 - 7:43AMvideocam

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.

21 Feb 2025 - 11:30AM

People buy drinks at a convenience store in Tsim Sha Tsui on February 18. Photo: Jelly Tse

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.

27 Feb 2025 - 10:29AM

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.

3 Feb 2025 - 9:36PM

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.

1 Feb 2025 - 9:30AM

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.

29 Jan 2025 - 4:23PM

A clothes recycling bin with no logos set up outside Un Chau Shopping Centre in Cheung Sha Wan. A removal notice was hanged on it on Tuesday. Photo: Sun Yeung

Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Waste-to-energy plant backs recycling push in Hong Kong

Government insists new Hong Kong facility complements existing strategy and does not signal a shift away from the reduction of rubbish to burning it.

21 Jan 2025 - 6:45AM

The Environmental Protection Department is building the I·PARK1, Hong Kong’s first waste-to-energy facility for treating municipal solid waste. Photo: ISD

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong waste-to-energy plant won’t harm recycling push: minister

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan pushes back against ‘misunderstandings’ over facility opening this year.

12 Jan 2025 - 7:35PMvideocam

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong scientists turn kombucha ingredient into plastic substitute

Team’s waterproof, oilproof polymer can be used as a biodegradable packaging material for food and drinks.

11 Jan 2025 - 11:24PM

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong to end pilot plastic recycling scheme as Green@Community expands

‘Centralised Waste Plastics Collection’ pilot programme will end on January 19 as recycling habits in the city have matured, official says.

9 Jan 2025 - 9:34PM

The Green@Community network has expanded to cover all 18 districts in Hong Kong.Photo: Jelly Tse

Indonesia

Volunteers clean up Bali’s beach from ‘worst’ monsoon-driven trash

Hundreds of volunteers joined a clean-up as monsoon rains brought waves of plastic waste to the tourist-favoured beaches.

4 Jan 2025 - 6:15PM

Hong Kong

Editorial | Get set for the next phase of Hong Kong’s war on plastics

Despite city’s battle against such pollution by restaurants getting off to a good start, stronger punishment may be needed along way.

3 Jan 2025 - 6:15AM

Hong Kong environmental issues

Opinion | What Hong Kong’s 2023 waste data tells us, and what it doesn’t

The good news of less waste generated is tempered by the lack of clarity on plastic waste statistics and officials’ mistaken faith in incineration as a solution.

25 Dec 2024 - 4:30PMvideocam

Greenpeace campaigners calling for a cut in plastic production at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on October 19. Its survey found that 97 per cent of the waste collected from two ecologically important riverbanks is plastic. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong environmental issues

Food recycling surges at Hong Kong estates even without waste-charging scheme

Asked if shelved waste-charging scheme will be relaunched, environment chief says tools ‘we use are actually secondary’.

14 Dec 2024 - 6:28PM

A resident of Lung Hang Estate in Sha Tin places a food waste in a machine for recycling. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Hong Kong must watch out for dangers of black plastic

Readers discuss recent research on flame retardants in plastic products, and the suicide prevention system for students.

10 Dec 2024 - 11:30AM

Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Waste charges in Hong Kong cannot be swept under carpet

Official data suggests Hong Kong’s output of rubbish has peaked thanks to recycling, but environmental groups fear complacency after scrapping of levy.

10 Dec 2024 - 6:45AM

Climate change

Opinion | Circular economy must be centred in fight against plastic pollution

Instead of pitting recycling and reduction goals against each other, negotiators should consider solutions proven to remediate plastic waste.

8 Dec 2024 - 12:36PMvideocam

A man walks next to bags of plastic waste at a recycling site near Hanoi, Vietnam, on September 17. Photo: AFP

Environment

‘Challenging’: divided plastic pollution negotiators call for more time

Many countries meeting in South Korea had warned that a few nations were obstructing efforts to reach a global agreement on plastic pollution.

1 Dec 2024 - 11:42PMvideocam

A woman looks through a pile of plastic bags dumped in a Beijing ‘hutong’ street. File photo: Reuters

Hong Kong environmental issues

Amount of waste Hong Kong generates has peaked, environment minister says

City also threw out nearly 2 billion fewer plastic bags last year compared with 2022, official figures show.

24 Nov 2024 - 9:36PMvideocam

Food and Drinks

If you have this type of spatula, throw it out immediately

Household items made of black recycled plastic could contain dangerous levels of flame retardants and other toxic chemicals, study finds.

24 Nov 2024 - 7:15PM

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