XN000022-1996-10-16 — Page 16

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Answer:

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

The Government's overall objective of waste management is to reduce waste at source, to promote reuse and recycling and to ensure that what remains is disposed of in an environmentally appropriate and cost- effective manner. A consultancy study commissioned by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has recently recommended a number of waste reduction initiatives, including separation of recyclable materials at source. We have consulted interested parties on these initiatives to enable us to formulate a draft Waste Reduction Plan for further consultation with the public early next year.

To facilitate the separation of paper from other refuse a series of measures have been taken; these include extensive publicity programmes and campaigns, Announcements of Public Interest on television, posters and pamphlets. The Environmental Campaign Committee has also published pamphlets on waste paper recycling. In addition, a number of particular measures have been taken to encourage separation of recyclable waste at source -

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

EPD has introduced a hotline service (Tel No. 2755 2750) to advise the public on the setting up of waste collection schemes to recover recyclable materials, including paper.

EPD has prepared and distributed a pamphlet containing details on how to organise a waste paper separation and collection scheme in residential buildings and office premises.

Waste paper recovery programmes are being carried out in over 50 public housing estates and over a thousand private establishments, including schools, commercial offices, banks, hotels and utility companies.

Since December 1992, the Urban Council has launched a waste paper recycling scheme. A number of waste paper recycling bins are placed in convenient locations such as MTR exits in Central, Wan Chai and Yau Tsim Mong districts to collect waste paper from the public. The Regional Council has placed similar bins in Sai Kung.