Hong Kong families fail to finish over 2.88 million mooncakes last year

Hongkongers failed to finish over 2.88 million mooncakes last year, with the main reason being them not liking the seasonal delicacy's flavor, a survey found.

The survey, conducted by the food recycling organization Food Grace, showed that each local family failed to finish an average of 1.07 mooncakes last year, a slight decrease from 1.12 mooncakes in 2019.

Although over 70 percent of respondents said they would give away some of their leftover mooncakes to others instead of disposing them, the organization stated that they still threw away an average of 1.67 mooncakes.

The survey also found that nearly a quarter of respondents said they would consider increasing spending on mooncakes after the government launched the consumption voucher scheme earlier this month. The group expressed concern that more mooncakes would go to waste as people buy more of them as gifts. 

The group suggested people ask their relatives' preferences in flavors before sending them mooncakes as gifts or consider replacing the cakes with low-carbon alternatives, such as fruit. 

It also urged people to give away leftover mooncakes, saying that it would put up mooncake recycling stations in different estates and shopping malls within two weeks of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which will fall on September 21 this year.