Singles’ Day sales were a hit with shoppers: but what happens to all the boxes and plastic?

I am writing to respond to “Frenzied Singles’ Day eases spending fears”, (November 12). The 11/11 sale was greeted with great enthusiasm by online shoppers who snapped up merchandise worth billions of dollars, thus underscoring the resilience of consumer spending, as the event is generally seen as a barometer for China’s retail health and consumer confidence.

However, once the shopping is done and the goods delivered, what happens to the millions of cardboard boxes and packaging tape involved, along with other plastic bubble-wrapping and bags? I believe this produces an enormous amount of waste, all destined for the rubbish tip. The tape cannot be reused, and perhaps neither can most of the boxes, if they are damaged in transit or when opening.

How many people will take the trouble to take this trash, especially the plastics, to the recycling bins?

Janice Au, Kwai Chung