Hong Kong could significantly improve the waste streaming / recycling programmes in the city. - Discuss

Put recycling facilities on every floor's refuse room. Separate everything there.

Install highrise composters - the technology exists and is not too expensive. Perhaps they can go on the podium around some corner with shading.

I think it's important to separate recyclable waste and non-recyclable waste in the first place. It looks like nobody has any incentive to do such a thing at home.

As the change in legislation showed with the change in behaviour in use of plastic bag and cigarettes HK populace will / can change habits but asking is not enough.

A simple law requiring ALL buildings to have recycling points would transform the cities behaviour over night. But it would upset property developers so can't see it happening.

The easiest way must be the right way.

Morning Longershanks. I think step by step is still better, but in any case the current pace may be a bit slow.

As the change in legislation showed with the change in behaviour in use of plastic bag and cigarettes HK populace will / can change habits but asking is not enough.

A simple law requiring ALL buildings to have recycling points would transform the cities behaviour over night. But it would upset property developers so can't see it happening.

The easiest way must be the right way.

You can't legislate everything. You need to change people's mindset and convince them of why this is important first. There still needs to be a better education campaign to encourage recycling, and recent pollution concerns have prompted more attention in that area.

Then you need to think of how to handle all this recyclable material. Will it be processed locally? Is there enough capacity to do so? How about 'exporting' it to China?

Then finally we need to consider how to implement this. How do you codify this? All new buildings ought to have recycling chutes on every floor? All buildings? How do you make it happen in a 30-year-old building?

People are not going to care if laws are being slapped onto them left right and centre. A softer tone is key to a harmonious society. We don't want to turn into Singapore.

if it is not simple, convenient and fast then no matter how nicely you ask it will not get done. The plastic bag and smoking changes show just how easy other small improvements could be but why has the Government only banned plastic bags (ehich the supermarkets wanted)?

As long as they can figure out the logistics and where to recycle the stuff I'm fine with legislation. Have they done that yet though?

It's not going to work if it's just for new buildings, and not all existing buildings will not be able to adapt. Perhaps they can just place a box on each floor for recyclable materials. The cleaners can likely profit from selling these anyway.

Anyway plastic bag law change showed how simple it is to modify behaviour. A cynic would just say the Government is too scared of upsetting developers.

Anyway plastic bag law change showed how simple it is to modify behaviour. A cynic would just say the Government is too scared of upsetting developers.

A plastic bag tax is not the same as a forced recycling law. The logistics are far more complicated to implement. Don't know how you can tie the two together.

If waste is streamed then it has more value than un-streamed. Surely no recycling business model can start until there IS legislation requiring property developers to have waste streaming. This should be the 1st step not the last.

No. In other countries there is no law but recycling companies exist. The key is profitability. If the business is not profitable, then we won't see people going in to do it ... unless the government does it all themselves at the cost to the taxpayer.

Surely it is very difficult to enforce recycling!!! Enforcing the provision of recycling facilities in a very convenient relationship to an apartment / house is simple. If the right way is the easiest way then human nature usually takes over and behaivour changes on mass. Some countries limit the amount of mixed waste per household / building and if this is exceeded then additional fees must be paid.