Recycling. Every day we damp a lot of domestic, industrial & agricultural wastes. Some of the materials in the rubbish will decay: this include the left-over.

RecyclingRecycling

Every day we damp a lot of domestic, Every day we damp a lot of domestic, industrial & agricultural wastes. Some of industrial & agricultural wastes. Some of the materials in the rubbish will decay: the materials in the rubbish will decay: this include the left-over food, fruit this include the left-over food, fruit peelings, etc. They can be broken down peelings, etc. They can be broken down into simple inorganic materials by the into simple inorganic materials by the action of bacteria and fungi. We call this action of bacteria and fungi. We call this sort of pollutant biodegradable. Other sort of pollutant biodegradable. Other kinds of rubbish will not decay, because kinds of rubbish will not decay, because they are made of substances which they are made of substances which cannot be broken down into simple cannot be broken down into simple inorganic materials. They are called non-inorganic materials. They are called non-biodegradable. They include plastic, biodegradable. They include plastic, polystyrene, metal, etc. polystyrene, metal, etc.

This kind of rubbish wastes a This kind of rubbish wastes a large space of the landfill site and large space of the landfill site and cannot burn. But we may use cannot burn. But we may use another method to treat with this another method to treat with this kind of rubbish, which is called kind of rubbish, which is called recycling. By recycling, we can recycling. By recycling, we can make use of used materials like make use of used materials like paper, metal products and plastic paper, metal products and plastic products from the waste again. products from the waste again. For example, we can collect and For example, we can collect and melt used glass and metals for the melt used glass and metals for the production of new glass bottles production of new glass bottles and new aluminum cans.and new aluminum cans.

Type of rubbish can be recycleType of rubbish can be recycle

timber products (e.timber products (e.g. furniture)g. furniture)

paperpaper

metal products metal products

aluminium canaluminium can

plastics (e.g. tires, plastics (e.g. tires, plastic bottles, etc)plastic bottles, etc)

Aim of recyclingAim of recyclingSave resourcesSave resources

Timber, metal and plastic are non-renewable Timber, metal and plastic are non-renewable resources. Recycling can help to reduce the resources. Recycling can help to reduce the using the left materials.using the left materials.Reduce deposal wasteReduce deposal waste

As part of the rubbish are taken to recycle. Thus As part of the rubbish are taken to recycle. Thus reduce the area of landfill site use.reduce the area of landfill site use.Protect the environmentProtect the environment

As it prevent the burning of plastic in incinerator As it prevent the burning of plastic in incinerator and reduce the area of landfill site use.and reduce the area of landfill site use.

The fact in Hong Kong of recyclingThe fact in Hong Kong of recycling

About 1.94 million tones of waste were About 1.94 million tones of waste were recovered in Hong Kong in 2001. This recovered in Hong Kong in 2001. This represented about 36% of the total waste arising represented about 36% of the total waste arising in the city. The recovered wastes were either in the city. The recovered wastes were either recycled locally (0.17 million tonnes1) or recycled locally (0.17 million tonnes1) or exported to the Mainland and other countries for exported to the Mainland and other countries for recycling (1.77 million tonnes2). recycling (1.77 million tonnes2). The major kinds of recyclable wastes recovered The major kinds of recyclable wastes recovered included paper, plastics and metal, which included paper, plastics and metal, which accounted for about 98% of the waste accounted for about 98% of the waste recovered. The remaining 2% were glass, wood, recovered. The remaining 2% were glass, wood, rubber tires and textile.rubber tires and textile.

The fact of paper recyclingThe fact of paper recycling

The paper recycling process starts by The paper recycling process starts by beating waste paper into pieces in a beating waste paper into pieces in a stirring tank to generate paper pulp. stirring tank to generate paper pulp. Contaminants are removed while the Contaminants are removed while the remaining fibers are fed into fiber refiners remaining fibers are fed into fiber refiners to produce refined fibers. The flowing to produce refined fibers. The flowing refined pulp is then directed to a paper refined pulp is then directed to a paper former for layer deposition. The paper former for layer deposition. The paper layer is de-watered by a mechanical press, layer is de-watered by a mechanical press, followed by vacuum suction and thermal followed by vacuum suction and thermal drying to produce corrugated medium for drying to produce corrugated medium for paper container and paperboard. paper container and paperboard.

The recycled paper produced by local The recycled paper produced by local recyclers confines to corrugated paper and recyclers confines to corrugated paper and duplex paper card for packaging. A variety duplex paper card for packaging. A variety of waste paper including the high value of waste paper including the high value waste paper (e.g. white paper and waste paper (e.g. white paper and computer printout), old corrugated computer printout), old corrugated cardboard, newspapers and other mixed cardboard, newspapers and other mixed paper, are being exported to overseas paper, are being exported to overseas countries for recycling.countries for recycling.About 800,000 tones of waste paper were About 800,000 tones of waste paper were recovered in Hong Kong. This represented recovered in Hong Kong. This represented about 58% of the waste paper generated about 58% of the waste paper generated (dry weight).(dry weight).

The fact of plastic recyclingThe fact of plastic recycling

The recycling of plastic waste is limited to The recycling of plastic waste is limited to clean scraps and rejects from manufacturing clean scraps and rejects from manufacturing sources. Though domestic recovery of plastic sources. Though domestic recovery of plastic bottles has increased significantly since the bottles has increased significantly since the introduction of the waste separation bins in introduction of the waste separation bins in housing estates and public places, there is housing estates and public places, there is still limited reprocessing of post-consumer still limited reprocessing of post-consumer plastic such as plastic bottles and plastic plastic such as plastic bottles and plastic bags due to many practical constraints and bags due to many practical constraints and barriers.barriers.

Most local plastic recyclers consume only Most local plastic recyclers consume only clean and homogeneous pre-consumer clean and homogeneous pre-consumer plastic waste collected from the industrial plastic waste collected from the industrial sector. The plastic waste recycling sector. The plastic waste recycling process starts with the sorting by resin process starts with the sorting by resin types. The plastics are rinsed to remove types. The plastics are rinsed to remove contaminants. The sorted and washed contaminants. The sorted and washed waste is then crushed and mixed with waste is then crushed and mixed with colourant before melting and pelletising. colourant before melting and pelletising. The pellets produced will be sold to plastic The pellets produced will be sold to plastic product manufacturers as raw material. product manufacturers as raw material.

The fact of metal recyclingThe fact of metal recycling

Waste metals are broadly classified into twWaste metals are broadly classified into two types: ferrous and non-ferrous metal. o types: ferrous and non-ferrous metal. The most common ferrous metals recoverThe most common ferrous metals recovered in Hong Kong are: -iron -tinplaed in Hong Kong are: -iron -tinplate -alloy steel scrap -other scrapte -alloy steel scrap -other scrapNon-ferrous metals recovered include: Non-ferrous metals recovered include:

-copper & alloys -zinc -nickel -tin -copper & alloys -zinc -nickel -tin -aluminium -precious metal -lead -metal -aluminium -precious metal -lead -metal ash & residuesash & residues

About 803,000 tones of ferrous metal were About 803,000 tones of ferrous metal were recovered. This represented about 91% of recovered. This represented about 91% of the ferrous metal waste arising in the the ferrous metal waste arising in the territory. The major kinds of ferrous metals territory. The major kinds of ferrous metals recovered included structural steel, scrap recovered included structural steel, scrap vehicle and scrap home appliances. vehicle and scrap home appliances.

About 76% of the total non-ferrous metal About 76% of the total non-ferrous metal arising was recovered. Out of the 76,800 arising was recovered. Out of the 76,800 tones recovered.tones recovered.

The recovered metal is first classified, melt The recovered metal is first classified, melt and then turn to it shape by molding.and then turn to it shape by molding.

The limiting factor of recyclingThe limiting factor of recycling

Although the environmental awareness of the Although the environmental awareness of the general public has increased significantly in general public has increased significantly in recent years, their willingness to actively recent years, their willingness to actively participate in waste reduction still needs to be participate in waste reduction still needs to be enhanced. enhanced. Promoting waste avoidance on purely Promoting waste avoidance on purely environmental reasons may not be sufficient. environmental reasons may not be sufficient. As costs for collection and disposal services As costs for collection and disposal services are not linked directly with the quantity of are not linked directly with the quantity of wastes generated through charging, there is wastes generated through charging, there is no financial incentive for waste producers to no financial incentive for waste producers to reduce waste. reduce waste.

The built environment inhibits recycling The built environment inhibits recycling activities from the domestic waste stream. activities from the domestic waste stream. Small flat sizes restrict source separation Small flat sizes restrict source separation and storage practices. and storage practices. Low values, high transportation cost or Low values, high transportation cost or lack of market demand for recovered lack of market demand for recovered materials particularly for plastics, glass, materials particularly for plastics, glass, paper, metal, textiles, tires and organic paper, metal, textiles, tires and organic materials. materials. The predominance of small and medium The predominance of small and medium recovery and recycling enterprises recovery and recycling enterprises discourages investments in waste discourages investments in waste recovery technologies.recovery technologies.

On Government level,On Government level,Provide more Waste Separation Bins at each Provide more Waste Separation Bins at each buildings, plazas, leisure and cultural venues, buildings, plazas, leisure and cultural venues, schools, country parks, offices & factories.schools, country parks, offices & factories.Encourages materials re-use, recovery and Encourages materials re-use, recovery and recycling to help achieve waste reduction. recycling to help achieve waste reduction. Allocating suitable land solely for recycling Allocating suitable land solely for recycling purpose at affordable rent is a major measure purpose at affordable rent is a major measure for supporting the waste recycling industry. As for supporting the waste recycling industry. As the profit of waste recovery and recycling is the profit of waste recovery and recycling is often marginal, leasing land through open often marginal, leasing land through open tendering exclusively to waste recyclers could tendering exclusively to waste recyclers could lower their operation cost. This would help lower their operation cost. This would help promote the local recycling activity in Hong promote the local recycling activity in Hong Kong. Kong.

Organise more activities which are promoting Organise more activities which are promoting the recycling and reusing of useful rubbish.the recycling and reusing of useful rubbish.

Set up a recycling fund scheme for the recycliSet up a recycling fund scheme for the recycling factories, and for organising recycling activng factories, and for organising recycling activities.ities.

On personal level,On personal level,

Collect & classify the rubbish like aluminiuCollect & classify the rubbish like aluminium can and paper which can be recycle or rm can and paper which can be recycle or reuse. Put these kind of rubbish into the Weuse. Put these kind of rubbish into the Waste Separation Bins.aste Separation Bins.

Use both side of paper.Use both side of paper.

Reduce the using of products made by plaReduce the using of products made by plastic (e.g. plastic bag or bottle), always reusstic (e.g. plastic bag or bottle), always reuse and put into the Waste Separation Bins.e and put into the Waste Separation Bins.

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