Smart recycling bins collect over 3,800 tonnes of food waste from private housing estates as Environmental Protection Department expands network

At present, about 3,200 tonnes of food waste are disposed of at landfills every day, of which about two-thirds belong to domestic food waste.

To facilitate residents' participation in food waste recycling, the government has been subsidizing the installation of food waste recycling facilities at private residential buildings through various funding schemes. Residents of participating private housing estates stated that the food waste smart recycling bins (FWSRBs) can help reduce the odor of the refuse room, as well as minimize the problem of cockroaches and rodents, as food waste is no longer being stored inside the refuse room.

To encourage food waste recycling at private residential buildings, the government has been installing FWSRBs in private residential buildings and rural villages through the "Solicitation Theme" under the Recycling Fund; the "Practice and Action Projects" under the Environment and Conservation Fund; and the "Pilot Scheme on Food Waste Smart Recycling Bins in Private Housing Estates" jointly launched by the Environmental Campaign Committee and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).

Apart from offering FWSRBs, the EPD will also arrange contractors to collect the food waste and deliver to the centralised treatment facilities every day, for treatment and conversion into electricity and compost.

According to the EPD's statistics, as of January this year, FWSRBs have been installed at 117 private residential buildings and rural villages, with over 4.8 million individuals using the FWSRBs, a cumulative collection of over 3 800 tonnes of food waste, and an average daily collection quantity of about 15 tonnes.

The EPD also provides traditional food waste recycling bins for 30 private residential buildings for food waste collection. Private residential buildings interested in installing food waste smart recycling bins may apply for relevant government funding schemes after discussion and consensus with relevant stakeholders such as estate corporations, owners' committees and property management companies.

Royal Ascot, a private housing estate in Fo Tan, participated in the food waste recycling scheme at the end of last year and has achieved good results.

Chairlady of the Royal Ascot Owners' Committee, Lau Wing-sze, said that residents of the estate always had a strong sense of environmental protection.

For example, three-coloured recycling bins as well as facilities to recycle glass and used clothes have been set up within the estate, she said. So when the committee learned about the launching of the "Pilot Scheme on Food Waste Smart Recycling Bins in Private Housing Estates," they immediately contacted the estate's property management company and submitted an application, Lau said.

The application process was smooth and the Royal Ascot was granted five FWSRBs, she said, with each FWSRB shared by two blocks.

The FWSRBs collected as much as 217 kilograms of food waste during the first week of their food waste recycling activity in December 2024. The collection quantity nearly doubled by early January 2025, reaching 390 kilograms.

In addition, the EPD also provides food waste collection services for both Chinese and Western restaurants in the estate's clubhouse. They are collected together with the food waste from households, completing the food waste recycling network for the estate.

Lau also said the property management company has been actively promoting food waste recycling.

Apart from hosting promotions and educational events at the estate, it also deploys staff to distribute leaflets to residents, informing them about the location of the FWSRBs and how to recycle food waste using the new facilities.

The company also prepared posters in Indonesian and Filipino versions, encouraging all residents of the estate to take part in recycling of food waste.

Lau noted that the FWSRBs are equipped with automatic pest control, disinfection and deodorization functions.

With daily cleaning services arranged by the property management company, the overall response from residents on food waste recycling is positive and no complaints have been received so far, she said.

A resident of Royal Ascot, Yu, said the food waste smart recycling bins could not only improve the smell of the refuse room but also reduce cockroaches and improve rodent problems. Another resident, Ng, said separating and recycling food waste minimize the use of garbage bags and keep her home clean and odorless.