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The Environment

Beach water quality ranking

E coli count per 100ml of beach water

Bathing season geometric mean of

Minor health risk

cases per 1,000 swimmers

Number of beaches

in 2013

Good

Up to 24

Undetectable

24

Fair

25 to 180

10 or less

17

Poor

181 to 610

11 to 15

0

Very Poor

More than 610

More than 15

Beach water quality gradings to denote the recent water quality of open beaches are available on the EPD's website and hotline as well as through weekly press releases.

Waste Management

Waste Reduction

In May 2013, the government unveiled the 'Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022' which maps out the strategy, policies and plans for waste management in the coming 10 years to tackle the imminent waste problem through: (i) policies and legislation to drive behavioural changes to reduce waste at source; (ii) targeted territory-wide waste reduction campaigns to arouse public awareness and encourage community participation; and (iii) enhancement of waste-related infrastructure. The aim is to reduce Hong Kong's per capita municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal rate from 1.27 kg per day to 1 kg or less. by 2017, and to 0.8 kg or less by 2022.

Waste reduction and recovery have always played an important role in waste management. Substantial quantities of recyclable materials are recovered and exported for recycling outside. Hong Kong. Plastics, paper and metals are the major recyclables exported for recycling, contributing to over 90 per cent of the total quantity of recovered waste. The government also promotes local recycling and has developed a 20-hectare EcoPark in Tuen Mun Area 38 for exclusive use by the recycling industry. Fourteen lots in EcoPark have been let to waste. recyclers.

The territory-wide Source Separation of Waste Programme covers over 80 per cent of the population. To further promote waste reduction and recycling and provide outlets for recyclables of low commercial value in the community, in 2011 the government launched the Community Recycling Network and, in collaboration with the District Councils, a programme to enhance community participation through district-based education, promotion and waste recycling programmes and activities.

International experience suggests that MSW charging can effectively reduce waste. A public consultation in 2012 showed majority support for a quantity-based charging system and the

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