Mobile food-waste truck pilot sees 1.5-ton uptake, may expand citywide

Hong Kong’s trial program using roaming food-waste collection trucks has gathered about 1,500 kilograms of food waste since launching in early October, with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) saying public response has been “in line with expectations” and that it is now considering expanding the initiative to more districts.

The pilot currently operates only in the Central and Western District, where the truck parks for 45 minutes each evening at four designated spots, including outside Exit C of Sai Ying Pun MTR Station. Residents drop off their food waste directly into the vehicle, assisted by ambassadors in purple vests who explain how the service works.

Yu, a resident who regularly uses the truck, said he finds the system practical and simple. 

“It’s good and very convenient. I mainly come down to throw away my own food waste,” he said, adding that as the truck becomes familiar to more people, he expects participation to grow.

Another resident, Ho, compared the service favorably to nighttime recycling stations near markets.

“Those [nighttime recycling stations] require containers to pour the food waste into. This one lets you throw the whole bag directly, which is a bit easier,” she said.

According to EPD statistics, more than 1,600 residents have taken part so far.

Senior Environmental Protection Officer (Waste Reduction and Community Recycling) Kenneth Tong Lok-kan said the program was designed not only to collect food waste but also to build public awareness.

“The trial began in early October, and up to mid-November we’ve collected around 1,500 kilograms,” he said. “The main goal is promotional and educational, complementing existing food-waste collection services.”

As the initiative is still in its testing phase, residents who use the truck cannot earn GREEN$ reward points, though small souvenirs are offered.

Beyond the mobile truck, the EPD currently operates 100 nighttime food-waste collection points across Hong Kong, set up as temporary street stations serving nearby households and businesses.

The department said it will review the effectiveness of the pilot before deciding whether to introduce the collection truck to additional districts.