Advertisement
Advertisement

Want not, waste not ... landfills are full enough

The typical Hong Kong restaurant meal comes with an unappetising dilemma: if the excess rice or noodles that are served up are eaten, there is the risk over time of obesity; if left in the bowl, they will be thrown into the rubbish. Invariably, most diners opt not to finish their meals, a choice that is starkly revealed in Environmental Protection Department figures showing that each day last year, more than 3,000 tonnes of wasted food was dumped into our rapidly filling landfills.

If ever there was a statistic that was food for thought amid the discussion about environmental sustainability, this must be it. Reducing the amount of recyclable material we throw away and helping cut air pollution levels are not straightforward matters; however, being less wasteful with food should be as easy as pie.

The 'less rice, save money' campaign to be launched in December is a good beginning. With three major catering organisations joining the initiative of environmental groups, awareness will be heightened of a problem to which few of us give thought. Attracting diners in the cut-throat world of eateries generally involves offering value for money. More often than not, that means heaped bowls and plates of food. On average, one-third will be left uneaten and go into the rubbish bin. Few of us apparently feel guilty about this, if Environmental Protection Department statistics are any guide. Affluence breeds expectations of plenty, after all, and few of us witness dump trucks pouring food into landfills.

The situation is markedly different from the Hong Kong of half a century ago, where food was precious and prized. People from that generation were struggling with post-war poverty and the 'waste not, want not' philosophy was ingrained in society. Those days are long gone and forgotten by all but the dwindling numbers who lived through them. With the denigration of our environment, we need a wake-up call.

Food is the perfect place to start. By asking for less rice when ordering our meals, and getting a discount as an incentive, we will be doing our part to help save what we have around us. But to ensure that we get the message, the campaign should be widened - and food portions as a rule reduced in size. Construction workers may be thankful for the extra cup or two of rice, but the majority of us do not need it.

Post