Environmentalists seek ban on advertising leaflet distribution

Environmentalists are calling for a ban on the distribution of advertising leaflets after a study confirmed the practice is wasteful and inefficient.

Of every 10,000 pedestrians, less than 50 accept the leaflets, and less than one on average ends up buying the advertised product or service, according to a survey by middle school students under the instruction of the University of Hong Kong Public Opinion Programme.

'This is a problem largely ignored. It's actually no different than mass production of garbage,' said Mei Ng, of Friends of the Earth Hong Kong. 'I am in favour of legislation against it. It should be treated as seriously as litter.'

The students observed pedestrian flow and leaflet distribution at three locations in Mongkok, Tsuen Wan and Sheung Shui on July 9, recording 22,473 people. They saw 111 people accept leaflets, while 3,674 people refused them.

Based on the results of 446 questionnaires, the students found just 1.8 per cent of those who read the leaflets were interested in buying the products or services that were advertised.

They also found only 17 per cent of those receiving leaflets put them in recycling bins, while 65 per cent placed them in regular rubbish bins and 2 per cent dropped them as litter. Ms Ng said many thousands of wasted leaflets were not placed in recycling bins.