We need to stop this wastage
A report by green group Friends of the Earth estimated that 650 outlets of the four main supermarkets create 87 tonnes of food scraps every day. About a third of that, or 29 tonnes a day, is edible items like bread, vegetables and sushi which has not reached its expiry date.
I'm angered that this food isn't given to the poor. Increasing numbers of people have to rely on food banks to eat. This waste is terrible.
Even the food that has passed its expiry date could be used as fertiliser - some schools do this, and yet massive companies haven't bothered to set up a system.
Supermarkets are rich and powerful, and spend millions of dollars on advertising, but have done nothing about this problem.
I believe it is a reflection of society: no conscience and no consideration for those in need.
Wong Tsz-ham, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School
From the Editor
Thank you for your letter, Tsz-ham. Although Hong Kong is a hugely wealthy city, a recent report showed that one in five households lives below the poverty line. Another report last year revealed that one in six families with children often suffer from hunger.
This is not sub-Saharan Africa, or massively overpopulated India. This is a city where Louis Vuitton, Mercedes and Tiffany's are part of everyday language, where despite the low tax rate, the government can afford to give every permanent resident HK$6,000 - and yet people are starving. It's illogical and maddening.
The fact that perfectly good food is thrown away in such huge quantities every day adds to the frustration. The city has a couple of food banks, organisations that collect and redistribute food to the needy - but there aren't enough people involved to deal with the vast mass of food that is binned every day.
Many world cities run similar schemes - it's time ours caught up.
Karly, Deputy Editor
