How Hongkongers celebrate Chinese New Year

The small citrus tree symbolises wealth and good fortune, for the words gam (金) and gat (桔) in its name. Or at least it is supposed to, considering that we throw out these symbols of “wealth and good fortune” after a couple of weeks. Last Lunar New Year, around 40,000 kumquat trees were disposed of in Hong Kong. That is about 1,400 tonnes or 60 double-decker buses in weight. For comparison, the city produced 111 tonnes of yard waste daily, on average, in 2014.

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Most things – particularly woody materials – take much longer to break down in the dry and airless conditions of landfills. Even 50-year-old newspapers were found to be still readable. The decomposition process also contributes to climate change through methane emissions. Organic waste such as food scraps and yard waste can instead be composted for use in gardens and so on.

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The kumquat trees are more than just decoration. Their golden fruits can be preserved in salt or used to make jam. They are valued in Chinese medicine for treating sore throats and coughs. Sadly, the trees we get for Lunar New Year are grown for ornamental purposes. They are sprayed heavily with chemicals for pest control. In most cases, the fruits still contain excessive pesticide residue and are not suitable for consumption.

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However, don’t throw out the pot just yet. Kumquat trees can bear fruit two or three times a year. All it takes are green fingers and some gardening tools. Once the fruits have fallen off, prune a third of the branches and the root ball, change the soil, add fertiliser if desired, and water. Proper care will have it ready for the next year, avoiding the need to buy a new tree. Better still, you can enjoy the pesticide-free fruits of your labour.