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Recycling and waste reduction

Recycling and waste reduction
Latest news and analysis about the recycling and reduction of waste materials, particularly of plastics, water, paper, metals and e-waste.
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Environment

Video | Vietnam’s recyclers risk cancer in toxic villages

UN study finds ‘very high’ lead and dioxin levels in Vietnamese communities handling domestic and imported plastic waste, with residents reporting widespread illness.

Fashion

The stars wearing upcycled fashion using everything from watch straps to spoons

Style Edit

Style Edit: Noble Panacea has landed in Hong Kong – meet CEO Céline Talabaza

China exports

Waste to wealth: why China is building incinerators around the world

China’s economic slowdown has left its waste-to-energy sector without enough trash to burn. So, companies are heading overseas.

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People work at a garbage incinerator power station in Zhangye, a city in China’s northwestern Gansu province. Photo: Getty Images
Malaysia

How US e-waste is dodging bans and turning Malaysia into ‘mecca of junk’

A watchdog report details how US firms export e-waste to developing nations, bypassing regulations and harming health and environment.

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Hong Kong

Coca-Cola goes green in Hong Kong with locally recycled PET bottles

Bottling partner Swire Coca-Cola starts using locally sourced recycled PET from Hong Kong supplier New Life Plastics.

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Hong Kong environmental issues

HK$90 million spent on Hong Kong pay-as-you-throw scheme ‘not wasted’: minister

Environment chief Tse Chin-wan says no public resources have been wasted, as he has noticed an increase in public awareness of waste reduction and recycling.

Hong Kong’s environment minister has defended the spending of HK$90 million (US$11.6 million) on promoting a now-suspended pay-as-you-throw scheme. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Waste-charging scheme can still be an effective tool for Hong Kong

Officials must not lose sight of the urgency of tackling the city’s overburdened landfills.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Opinion | Hongkongers must see the waste-charging scheme makes financial sense

The public must not lose sight of how landfill and other waste-related costs ultimately weigh on the government’s fiscal health.

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Fashion

Redress takes circular fashion advocacy to the UN, spotlighting Asia’s role

The Hong Kong NGO’s founder and CEO, Christina Dean, moderated a New York panel of young designers pioneering eco-friendly design practices.

The speakers – and moderator, Redress’ Christina Dean (right) – of last month’s Designing Circular Futures panel, hosted by the UN’s Fashion and Lifestyle Network. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong’s John Lee cites lack of consensus in shelving waste-charging scheme

But chief executive stresses that government’s goal of promoting waste reduction and recycling and achieving ‘zero landfill’ by 2035 remains unchanged.

Household waste piles up at Yiu Tung Estate. The waste-charging scheme was first proposed in 2004 and passed by the legislature in 2021, before it was shelved in May last year. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong will boost recycling rate, keep waste-charging as safety net, says minister

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan says government may reintroduce the scheme, which is ‘on standby’, if necessary.

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Hong Kong environmental issues

Strong public backlash behind ongoing hold on Hong Kong waste charging: minister

Environment chief says surveys showed about 70 to 80 per cent of respondents thought scheme should not be implemented, timing wasn’t right for policy.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Waste-charging scheme will remain on the shelf indefinitely, Hong Kong confirms

Hong Kong government indefinitely shelves the long-delayed pay-as-you-throw scheme amid global trade war and rising geopolitical risks.

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Pre-paid eco-friendly garbage bags were to be used under the scheme. Photo: Jelly Tse
Business of climate change

EcoCeres backs green aviation fuel hub for Hong Kong ‘depending on conditions’

Chief executive says a ‘clear and stable local market’ is a key prerequisite for green aviation fuel hub ambitions.

Hong Kong has plans to develop a sustainable aviation fuel supply chain in the Greater Bay Area. Photo: Shutterstock
Food and Drinks

Have too many mooncakes? How to donate them to people without in Hong Kong

Millions of mooncakes go to waste every year in Hong Kong and boxes and packaging end up in landfills. Here are charities that help.

Australia

Sayonara, soy fish: Australian state bans plastic containers in world first

The small size of the 30ml takeaway packs makes them difficult to recycle, South Australia’s environment minister says.

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Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Does recycling in Hong Kong have to be a financial burden?

Readers discuss the costs involved in recycling, a recent football event, and a kind gesture by Cathay Pacific.

Workers collect discarded fluorescent tubes at the Green@Kwai Tsing Recycling Station, located on Tam Kon Shan Road in Tsing Yi on August 20. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong environmental issues

A year after axing waste-charging scheme, is Hong Kong better off?

Officials cite trash volume declines and more recycling activity as victories, but environmentalists say the numbers do not paint the full picture.

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Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Hong Kong can align with Guangdong’s zero-waste goal for National Games

Readers discuss the problem with single-use cups, the need for a hope campaign, high-risk carers, and senior job options.

Environment

Deadline looms as nations remain divided on global plastic pollution treaty

A coalition of oil-producing states remains at odds with an ‘ambitious’ group that wants radical action written into a treaty.

A worker sorts plastic waste on the outskirts of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

CATL, BYD partner with BHP to electrify Australia’s mining industry

The Chinese firms will collaborate with BHP on battery development for mining equipment, locomotives and rapid charging infrastructure.

Australian mining giant BHP’s Mount Newman iron ore mine in Western Australia. BHP aims to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Indonesia fights to clean up ‘world’s most polluted river’

Indonesia’s Citarum River is so heavily polluted with rubbish that you can barely see the water.

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Icons and Influencers

Why In Lieu is sourcing ‘premium water’ from Henan’s mountains

In Lieu works with Hong Kong hotels, and organisations like Art Central and the Midnight Runners, but is inspired by the wider choice of water in the US where even Beyoncé and Jaden Smith have founded water businesses.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Dragon boat races and the like must have proper waste management plans

Readers discuss waste reduction at large outdoor events, the trouble with reducing clinical training hours for medical lab technologists, and how closing schools will affect students and teachers.

The Stanley International Dragon Boat Championship is held at Stanley Main Beach on Tuen Ng Festival on May 31. Photo: Nora Tam
Energy storage

How a Hong Kong start-up is going about recycling lithium batteries

Achelous Pure Metals plans to bring its scalable, movable, eco-friendly technology to the city followed by Southeast Asia.

Achelous Pure Metals’ robot-assisted lithium battery processing line in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
Japan

Plastic that dissolves in seawater? Japan unveils ocean pollution solution

The new material is as strong as petroleum-based plastics but breaks down when exposed to salt, researchers say.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s Bali bans small plastic bottles: bold move or industry killer?

Bali’s governor has banned small plastic bottles to combat waste, sparking debate on environmental impact versus industry concerns.

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