LettersGlass recycling in Hong Kong cannot succeed without popular support

I refer to the letters from Heli Teoline Meehan (“Hong Kong should reduce and reuse first”) and Richard Paine (“There would be plenty of glass to recycle here”) on March 19, and would like to express our appreciation for their support for glass bottle recycling in the city.

There has also been a significant growth in collection points set up across the territory: those serving catering premises nearly tripled while the residential ones increased to over 1,500. The network will continue to grow. Property management companies are welcome to contact the contractors to set up new collection points. (For Hong Kong Islands and the New Territories, contact Baguio Waste Management & Recycling Limited at 81002541, gmc.baguio.com.hk; for Kowloon, contact Hong Kong Glass Reborn Limited at 21168648, www.glassreborn.com)

Public support is crucial to achieving a high recycling rate. In this regard, apart from launching various publicity campaigns, we launched a Glass Container Recycling Charter in January, inviting all interested parties to join us in promoting recycling. So far, some 465 participants, including sector associations, housing estates, shopping malls, hotels, and catering and other premises have signed the charter to underline their participation and commitment to the campaign.

We also encourage the public to actively participate in glass bottle recycling, and suggest that they check out the location of the collection points near their home, workplace or school through the “Waste Less” app that the Environmental Protection Department launched in 2014.