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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHAN CHOI-HI (in Cantonese):- Would the Chairman of the PH SIC please furnish us with the figure after the meeting? It has been one year since April 1998. What is the total quantity of recyclables collected from the 11 locations in the past year? What are the respective types of recyclables collected from the 3 recycling bins? When interviewed by the media, our fellow Councillors seemed to know little about the operations. Some even had the misunderstanding that the recyclables would be burnt with other refuse. From an outsider's point of view, our recycling campaign is just a window-dressing initiative. So, what is its effectiveness? I think the relevant select committee of the Council should study its actual effectiveness. Also, I can go with the Chairman of the PH SIC to the Western District or to one of the collection points for site investigation. The recycling bins in some locations, as Members have said, are sometimes full and the recyclables are not properly put in the right place. Some people even wrongly put waste paper into the recycling bins for aluminum cans or use recycling bins as ordinary refuse bins. How are we going to educate them?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, concerning the total quantity of recyclables collected and the respective quantities of recovered waste paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans over the past year, I'm afraid I do not have the figures in hand now. But I will furnish you with the figures after the meeting.
On whether this campaign is only a sort of window-dressing initiative, I don't think so. In fact, this campaign is a forward-looking move taken on our own initiative. We launched the campaign before the EPD launched it in full scale. We are taking the role of a pioneer to kickstart the programme. In fact, the EPD rather than the PUC is responsible for taking the lead in this campaign. We are just responsible for collecting the refuse, whereas the classification and recovery of wastes should be the responsibility of the EPD. Before the EPD launched the campaign, we already had the idea that it would be a waste if the recyclables were to be disposed of together with the wastes. We are just acting as a pioneer. Of course, what we can do within our purview may be regarded by the outsider as a window-dressing initiative.
MR. RONNIE WONG Man-Chiu (in Cantonese):— In fact, no matter how you classify the wastes, they just end up all mixed up when they arrive at the landfills. However, there is one thing that we can do. I wonder if the Chairman of the Select Committee can discuss this matter with the Committee or the Department. We can reserve as much space as possible at the sources (i.e., refuse collection points (RCPs)) to facilitate the recyclable dealers in collecting the recyclables after a large quantity has been accumulated. It is hoped that under such an arrangement more recyclable dealers will be encouraged to collect more recyclable wastes.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, there are such arrangements. At present, recyclable or reusable wastes collected can be stored...
4 of 606
598
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHAN CHOI-HI (in Cantonese):-Would the Chairman of the PH SIC please furnish us with the figure after the meeting? It has been one year since April 1998. What is the total quantity of recyclables collected from the II locations in the past year? What are the respective types of recyclables collected from the 3 recycling bins? When interviewed by the media, our fellow Councillors seemed to know little about the operations. Some even had the misunderstanding that the recyclables would be burnt with other refuse. From an outsider's point of view, our recycling campaign is just a window-dressing initiative. So, what is its effectiveness? I think the relevant select committee of the Council should study its actual effectiveness. Also, I can go with the Chairman of the PH SIC to the Western District or to one of the collection points for site investigation. The recycling bins in some locations, as Members have said, are sometimes full and the recyclables are not properly put in the right place. Some people even wrongly put waste paper into the recycling bins for aluminum cans or use recycling bins as ordinary refuse bins. How are we going to educate them?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning the total quantity of recyclables collected and the respective quantities of recovered waste paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans over the past year, I'm afraid I do not have the figures in hand now. But I will furnish you with the figures after the meeting.
On whether this campaign is only a sort of window-dressing initiative, I don't think so. In fact, this campaign is a forward looking move taken on our own initiative. We launched the campaign before the EPD launched it in full scale. We are taking the role of a pioneer to kickstart the programme. In fact the EPD rather than the PUC is responsible for taking the lead in this campaign. We are just responsible for collecting the refuse whereas the classification and recovery of wastes should be the responsibility of the EPD. Before the EPD launched the campaign, we already had the idea that it would be a waste if the recyclables were to be disposed of together with the wastes. We are just acting as a pioneer. Of course, what we can do within our purview may be regarded by the outsider as a window-dressing initiative.
MR. RONNIE WONG Man-Chiu (in Cantonese):—In fact, no matter how you classify the wastes, they just end up all mixed up when they arrive at the landfills. However, there is one thing that we can do. I wonder if the Chairman of the Select Committee can discuss this matter with the Committee or the Department. We can reserve as much space as possible at the sources (ie. refuse collection points (RCPs)) to facilitate the recyclable dealers in collecting the recyclables after a large quantity has been accumulated. It is hoped that under such an arrangement more recyclable dealers will be encouraged to collect more recyclable wastes.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, there are such arrangements. At present, recyclable or reusable wastes collected can be stored
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