Ready to reduce waste? Join us on this journey and learn all about the tips and tricks of recycling in Hong Kong! From what can be recycled to where you can take it and everything in between, we'll break down all the must-know info for making a difference and helping keep our planet clean. Let's get started!

Recycling in Hong Kong

Hong Kong produces over 15,000 tonnes of MSW per day, consisting of roughly 4,200 tonnes of waste paper,  2,500 tonnes of waste plastics and 3 500 tonnes of food waste. With only  20 per cent being recycled locally in 2020. This means it is up to all of us to help reduce the waste going to Hong Kong landfills. 

Where & What can be Recycled in Hong Kong

Over the past few years, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has expanded its community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY. These locations take eight types of recyclables including papers, metals, plastics, glass bottles, regulated electrical equipment, small electrical appliances, fluorescent lamps and tubes and rechargeable batteries. You can find more information here

If you are not nearby, a GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling can be done through municipal collections or charity organisations across the city, and you can find a list here

Photo credit: HK Gov

Clean & Separate your Items!

Food waste should not be disposed of into recycling bins, since it contaminates other recyclable materials. Please also make sure your paper products are not wet, so after rinsing, leave them to dry out. To ensure maximum efficiency during the process of collecting materials for recycling, Hong Kong’s EPD has issued guidelines for citizens on how best to dispose of these materials at designated collection points.

To maximise the efficiency of your recycling efforts, separate recyclable items from non-recyclable materials when disposing of your garbage. Lastly, be sure to place your separated recyclable materials into the appropriate bins or containers provided by the local government or private companies for efficient collection.

Recycling Sustainabl. Products

All our products are accepted at most GREEN@COMMUNITY, and are collected and recycled into paper pulp. This includes our entire Refibr. bagasse range, our bamboo paper cups and all our FSC Certified paper products. Just make sure you’ve rinsed them. To find a paper recycling spot near you, check out this map by our recycling partner Mil Mill. 

Benefits of Recycling in Hong Kong

Recycling is an important part of reducing waste and protecting the environment in Hong Kong. By recycling our materials, we can reduce waste going to landfills and incineration, conserve valuable resources, save energy, drives the economy, create jobs and protect against global climate change.

Challenges of Recycling in Hong Kong

Recycling in Hong Kong has its challenges. Land strain in the city and public education lead to a fragmented recycling system that is often difficult for residents to understand. In addition, Hong Kong has an ageing building stock, making it tough for the government to install modern recycling infrastructures such as sorting machines and efficient collection systems.

Recycling is essential to our environmental responsibility, and we must do our part. Recycling in Hong Kong is becoming easier as more people realise this cause's urgency. You cannot be recycled in Hong Kong. Which locations cater to recyclable materials, and how to identify them correctly.

Photo credit: HK Gov

Sources:
Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong
SCMP
Green Queen
EPD
Mil Mill