Student conservationists will launch a campaign in the middle of the month, with the help of one fast-food chain, to highlight the need to reduce food waste and 'cherish' what we eat.
In the Green Student Council's campaign, customers who order a third less rice than usually comes with their meal will get a discount.
California Red, the only chain to join so far, confirmed yesterday that its 16 branches would participate.
'The waste problem is so serious in Hong Kong. We want to raise the public's attention,' said council chairman Angus Ho Hon-Wai. The programme - aimed at fast-food chains - will run for three months from July 15.
On the third day of each month people who order less rice with lunch or dinner will save HK$1.
The council hopes to start another campaign early next month, aimed at restaurants, in which customers who clean up at least 95 per cent of their food will get HK$1.
Of 9,300 tonnes of municipal solid waste produced last year, a third was food and most of it was dumped in landfills.