Public housing residents hail convenient food waste bins

Ayra Wang

Residents of public rental housing estates are delighted with the 700 food waste smart recycling bins installed by the Environmental Protection Department.

The bins are convenient and hygienic, according to the residents.

The government has completed the installation of over 700 food waste processors in 213 public housing estates - two months ahead of the original schedule.

Three smart bins have been put into use in Choi Ying Estate in Kwun Tong, and residents say the bins help improve environmental hygiene.

A local housewife, Wong, finds the bins convenient as they are located just one-minute's walk away from her residence.

She would typically put food waste into a reusable household food waste bin provided by the department, which has a cover and a sieve to drain water. She would then take the waste to the smart bin near the building's entrance whenever she had time.

"The food waste smart recycling bin is not 'fussy' about food waste as I can put not only raw food, cooked food and spoiled food leftovers into it, but also the plastic bags wrapping the food waste," Wong said.

This is possible because the facility, O Park2 - Hong Kong's largest organic waste treatment facility - was commissioned in March and is equipped with advanced technology to process impurities such as bones and plastic bags.

Citizens can simply scan the QR code on their Green$ mobile application or smart cards to open the bin, and reward points will be automatically added to their accounts after the recycling is completed.

They can then redeem the points for food and daily necessities or donate them to designated charities.

Wong sees recycling food waste not only as a way to earn points but also as a way to help protect the environment.

"Since I started to separate food waste and other household garbage, my garbage became less likely to stink, and I don't need to dump it every day," she said, adding it has reduced the number of trash bags she used.

She also said the 20 free designated trash bags the department distributes are enough for one month's use.

Another resident, Tseng, said recycling food waste with the smart bins "is easier than expected," while another, Chan, praised the smart bins for their deodorizing function, which made her feel clean and hygienic even when dumping the food waste.

The department's figures show that the amount of household food waste recycled has increased to over 60 tonnes per day currently from 1.4 tonnes per day in July 2022 - an increase of about 43 times.

The overall current food waste recycling volume has also doubled to 280 tonnes daily, from about 135 tonnes per day in 2022.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com