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SCMP Reporter

Using different coloured bins is no longer the only way to separate domestic waste.

Residents of Ka Lung Court in Aberdeen won an award for using fishing nets, plastic trays and cardboard boxes in innovative ways to collect waste.

Wall-mounted baskets made of fishing nets have been installed in residents' refuse rooms for collecting waste plastic.

There are plastic trays to collect metal and alloys and cardboard boxes for waste paper.

The private estate applied for the Environment and Conservation Fund under the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and was awarded a grant of about HK$31,000, almost 50 per cent of the total expenditure of HK$66,000, needed to buy and install waste collection items. The remainder was provided by residents.

Residents must separate recyclable waste materials and drop them in their respective collection points.

Sebastian Lo Chin-pang, chairman of the incorporated owners of Ka Lung Court, said: 'It is hard to change the conventional practice of waste disposal because residents are accustomed to putting all waste, including recyclable materials, into one rubbish bag.'

The incorporated owners considered many ways to collect waste to find the most convenient one for cleaners and residents. These included setting up designated places on each floor to collect recyclable materials. But space limitations meant this idea had to be  discontinued. 'Placing bins there would have limited access to the stairwell in case of fire,' Mr Lo said.

They chose to create refuse rooms as the best solution for keeping waste separate. The rooms are never locked so residents can dump waste at will. After a one-month trial in one of the four blocks, residents and cleaners were asked for their comments before the programme was fully implemented in all blocks.

As well as sorting out the space to put waste, using appropriate bins was another challenge. Mr Lo said large plastic bins were initially used to collect bottles and cans but they were airtight and that caused a build-up of bad smells.

The final solution was fishing nets because they were durable, clean and easy to use.

'The cleaners can untie the nets and all bottles will drop into collection bags for recycling,' Mr Lo said.

The residents won an award for innovation last year for collecting separated waste in a unique and effective way. The award was part of the annual separation of domestic waste competition organised by the EPD.

Mr Lo said the cleaners did not need to spend much time handling waste and earned extra income from selling recyclable materials.

'We don't use that income to subsidise management expenses. We understand the income can motivate the cleaners to do a better job. It's a win-win situation. Cleaners can earn a bit more money and, at the same time, this recycling scheme can be successful.'

The estate reports the quantity of its recyclable waste to the EPD each month so that the scheme's effectiveness can be evaluated. The scheme has been welcomed by the majority of residents.



Home sweet home for residents of Ka Lung Court