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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.
A smart food waste bin in Ping Shek Estate in Kwun Tong in 2024. Photo: Sun Yeung
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.

Indonesia

Video | Jakarta suffocates in rubbish-choked streets

Indonesia

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

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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.

Waste materials lie on Kuta Beach on Bali island on January 23. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has said he received complaints from foreign dignitaries about the state of cleanliness in Bali. Photo: EPA
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.

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.

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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.

About 75 per cent of paper and 40 per cent of plastic sent to landfills are unclassified, according to official statistics. Photo: SCMP
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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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.

Authorities last year shelved a controversial waste-charging scheme. Photo: Eugene Lee
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.

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.

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.

Noble Panacea is making waves with its new Absolute Peptide8 Night Serum. Photo: Handout
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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People work at a garbage incinerator power station in Zhangye, a city in China’s northwestern Gansu province. Photo: Getty Images
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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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.

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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’s environment minister has defended the spending of HK$90 million (US$11.6 million) on promoting a now-suspended pay-as-you-throw scheme. Photo: May Tse
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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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.

Household waste piles up at Yiu Tung Estate. The waste-charging scheme was first proposed in 2004 and passed by the legislature in 2021, before it was shelved in May last year. Photo: Eugene Lee
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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Hong Kong environmental issues

Strong public backlash behind ongoing hold on Hong Kong waste charging: minister

Environment chief says surveys showed about 70 to 80 per cent of respondents thought scheme should not be implemented, timing wasn’t right for policy.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Waste-charging scheme will remain on the shelf indefinitely, Hong Kong confirms

Hong Kong government indefinitely shelves the long-delayed pay-as-you-throw scheme amid global trade war and rising geopolitical risks.

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Pre-paid eco-friendly garbage bags were to be used under the scheme. Photo: Jelly Tse
Business of climate change

EcoCeres backs green aviation fuel hub for Hong Kong ‘depending on conditions’

Chief executive says a ‘clear and stable local market’ is a key prerequisite for green aviation fuel hub ambitions.

Hong Kong has plans to develop a sustainable aviation fuel supply chain in the Greater Bay Area. Photo: Shutterstock
Food and Drinks

Have too many mooncakes? How to donate them to people without in Hong Kong

Millions of mooncakes go to waste every year in Hong Kong and boxes and packaging end up in landfills. Here are charities that help.

Australia

Sayonara, soy fish: Australian state bans plastic containers in world first

The small size of the 30ml takeaway packs makes them difficult to recycle, South Australia’s environment minister says.

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