Island of trash: giant rubbish tip at Wailingding Island is a Hong Kong environmental ‘disaster waiting to happen’
Some blame the rubbish pile , only a short distance from Hong Kong, for the city’s polluted beaches
The easiest way to get to Wailingding Island is by a 90-minute ferry from Zhuhai but, on a fine day, the southern coasts of Lantau and Lamma loom large over the horizon. So close is the rocky outcrop to Hong Kong that faint mobile signals from the city may be picked up on the hills.
On this hot weekend afternoon, droves of holidaying tourists from Zhuhai and beyond are arriving at the pier. For some, it will be a weekend of sunbathing, hiking, seafood and angling. For others, it is Maotai and karaoke along Bar Street, Barbecue Street or Business Street.
There is certainly an “eco” vibe. Solar-powered street lights and fancy electric recycling bins line the streets. Hiking trails along the coast are given names such as Greenway 1 and Greenway 2. Segway-like electric scooters are a preferred method of transport.
But a different picture emerges at the shoreline. On this day, the waters that surround this island look filthy. Swathes of floating rubbish coagulate around the edges of the harbour – plastic bags, surgical gloves, bottles and disposable cutlery. Solid waste has enveloped the beach next to a new hotel project.
It will make for a familiar sight for those who have been to Shek O or Nim Shue Wan in Hong Kong recently. Since June, torrents of rubbish have been washing up on city beaches and coastlines, many on the southern coast.