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Recycling and waste reduction

Recycling and waste reduction
Latest news and analysis about the recycling and reduction of waste materials, particularly of plastics, water, paper, metals and e-waste.
People collect waste at the Suwung landfill in Denpasar, on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on April 17, 2026. (Photo by SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP)
Asia travel

Video | Bali is drowning in its own trash

Up to 70 per cent of the trash in the resort island’s landfill is organic waste, which over time, generates methane that can explode or trigger landslides.

Japan

Japan’s FamilyMart gives old clothes new lease of life to reduce textile waste

Art

US painter becomes Hong Kong Artists Association’s first non-Chinese member

Hong Kong environmental issues

Veteran activist warns of ‘shrinking space’ for green advocacy in Hong Kong

Edwin Lau, The Green Earth founder, looks back at triumphs and setbacks of his 36-year career after resigning from director role last August.

Green Earth founder Edwin Lau says Hongkongers are living at the expense of next generations. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Indonesia

Why Indonesia’s waste-to-energy goal may not be ‘quick fix’ for landfill crisis

With billions to be spent on new waste-to-energy plants, critics are questioning the potential cost to Indonesian cities and the environment.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Extend support for smart food waste bins across Hong Kong

Readers discuss the city’s food waste problem, optometrists’ referrals, and a memorial garden for those who died in the Tai Po fire.

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Indonesia

Video | Jakarta suffocates in rubbish-choked streets

With 42 million people churning out 14,000 tonnes of rubbish daily, Jakarta and its satellite cities are running out of room for trash.

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Indonesia

‘The smell is awful’: Indonesia’s capital is drowning in waste

With 42 million people churning out 14,000 tonnes of rubbish every day, Jakarta and its satellite cities are running out of room for trash.

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Indonesia

‘Bali is so dirty’: waste woes under scrutiny after Prabowo warning

Experts point to structural problems endemic to the issue, such as overtourism, lack of enforcement and insufficient education among locals.

Malaysia

Malaysia bans e-waste imports: ‘not world’s dumping ground’

Authorities have intercepted hundreds of containers of suspected e-waste at Malaysian ports in recent years and returned them to exporters.

Used charging cables and power adapters are piled up at a shop in Nhat Tao market, Vietnam. Photo: AP
Indonesia

‘No other option’: Indonesia begins returning toxic e-waste to US

Four containers of electronic waste deemed hazardous have been shipped out from Batam, following the government’s hardline warning.

Indonesian customs and environmental enforcement officers inspect discarded electronic equipment seized from containers at Batu Ampar port in Batam in October. Photo: Batam Customs
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong’s unclassified landfill waste data gaps ‘undermine green efforts’

NGO warns vague records hide bulk of paper and plastic waste, but the government insists current stats suffice for green policies push.

Japan

Letters | Japan should put more eggs in the renewable basket

Readers discuss Japan’s energy strategy, and how Hong Kong can do better on paper and plastic bottle recycling.

France

France pushes back plastic cup ban amid industry pressure, green backlash

France delays its single-use plastic cup ban to 2030, sparking criticism from environmental groups who cite industry lobbying and slow progress.

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A woman holding plastic cup of iced coffee with milk. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Hong Kong still needs a waste-charging scheme

Despite the decline in solid waste levels, there is a need for a solution to deal with the reality of the city’s overwhelmed landfills.

A resident of Hing Tung Estate in Sai Wan Ho uses a waste-charging bag on October 8, 2024. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong’s solid waste levels dip for third year, but green groups still worried

Environment groups say trend not so clear-cut, cite impact of pandemic and heightened public awareness over shelved waste-charging plan.

Environment

Video | Vietnam’s recyclers risk cancer in toxic villages

UN study finds ‘very high’ lead and dioxin levels in Vietnamese communities handling domestic and imported plastic waste, with residents reporting widespread illness.

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Fashion

The stars wearing upcycled fashion using everything from watch straps to spoons

Hailey Bieber and Lorde both wore a dress made from watch straps by Marine Serre, while Cate Blanchett was spotted in a Hodakova halter top made of spoons.

At the Emmys in September, Jenna Ortega turned heads in a stand-out upcycled piece from Sarah Burton’s debut collection for Givenchy, made from dozens of vintage jewels. Photo: TNS
Style Edit

Style Edit: Noble Panacea has landed in Hong Kong – meet CEO Céline Talabaza

The brand recently opened a flagship counter at Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford and launched the groundbreaking Absolute Peptide8 Night Serum.

China exports

Waste to wealth: why China is building incinerators around the world

China’s economic slowdown has left its waste-to-energy sector without enough trash to burn. So, companies are heading overseas.

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Malaysia

How US e-waste is dodging bans and turning Malaysia into ‘mecca of junk’

A watchdog report details how US firms export e-waste to developing nations, bypassing regulations and harming health and environment.

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A police officer inspects plastic waste inside cargo containers before it is sent back to the country of origin in Port Klang, Malaysia’s Selangor in 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE
Hong Kong

Coca-Cola goes green in Hong Kong with locally recycled PET bottles

Bottling partner Swire Coca-Cola starts using locally sourced recycled PET from Hong Kong supplier New Life Plastics.

Coca-Cola has started using recycled plastic supplied by a local company. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong environmental issues

HK$90 million spent on Hong Kong pay-as-you-throw scheme ‘not wasted’: minister

Environment chief Tse Chin-wan says no public resources have been wasted, as he has noticed an increase in public awareness of waste reduction and recycling.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Waste-charging scheme can still be an effective tool for Hong Kong

Officials must not lose sight of the urgency of tackling the city’s overburdened landfills.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Opinion | Hongkongers must see the waste-charging scheme makes financial sense

The public must not lose sight of how landfill and other waste-related costs ultimately weigh on the government’s fiscal health.

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An aerial view of the South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill in Tseung Kwan O on September 29. Hongkongers might not be required to pay directly for waste disposal now, but the financial implications of the city’s current disposal system are substantial. The cost of landfill disposal has nearly doubled over 10 years. Photo: Sam Tsang
Fashion

Redress takes circular fashion advocacy to the UN, spotlighting Asia’s role

The Hong Kong NGO’s founder and CEO, Christina Dean, moderated a New York panel of young designers pioneering eco-friendly design practices.

The speakers – and moderator, Redress’ Christina Dean (right) – of last month’s Designing Circular Futures panel, hosted by the UN’s Fashion and Lifestyle Network. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong’s John Lee cites lack of consensus in shelving waste-charging scheme

But chief executive stresses that government’s goal of promoting waste reduction and recycling and achieving ‘zero landfill’ by 2035 remains unchanged.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong will boost recycling rate, keep waste-charging as safety net, says minister

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan says government may reintroduce the scheme, which is ‘on standby’, if necessary.

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