To facilitate and encourage members of the public to use the community recycling facilities under the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the EPD has launched the GREEN$ electronic participation incentive scheme today (November 16) through its smart recycling system pilot programme, enabling the public to earn electronic reward points and redeem gifts with their GREEN$ smart cards.
The GREEN$ smart cards can be used in the new community recycling network, comprising Recycling Stations, Recycling Stores, Recycling Spots and a Community Smart Recycling Vehicle (CSRV).
"While promoting the smart recycling system, we have also been expanding the community recycling network by upgrading and improving the scale of existing community recycling centres and setting up new recycling points, so as to extend its services to the 18 districts. The network will also be rebranded as GREEN@COMMUNITY", a spokesman for the EPD said.
The new brand features the word "green", which sounds the same as the number "six" in Cantonese. The design of the logo also looks like the capital letter "G" in "GREEN" and other commonly used recycling logos, carrying the meaning of promoting green living in all districts.
Under the new brand, the nine existing community green stations will be renamed as "Recycling Stations", and 22 community recycling centres with an enhanced scale will become "Recycling Stores". In addition, more than 100 "Recycling Spots" will operate as mobile recycling points at regular locations and times in various districts across the territory. These three sets of facilities, together with the CSRV, will form the new GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling network. The network will receive a variety of recyclables (including waste paper, metals, plastics, glass bottles, regulated waste electrical and electronic equipment, small electrical appliances, rechargeable batteries, and fluorescent lamps and tubes) with a view to promoting the "Save More, Recycle More" concept, enabling people in every district to practise a green lifestyle.
"A member of the public who has dropped off no less than 2 kilograms of recyclables at a new community recycling network can obtain the GREEN$ smart card through a simple registration process. The card will not store any personal information. A person can then earn GREEN$ points by showing the smart card or the QR code printed on the back of the card when dropping off the recyclables," the spokesman added.
Initially, the gifts to be redeemed with GREEN$ points will consist of mainly daily necessities, groceries and eco-products such as bamboo pulp tissue paper, towels, and eco bags. This is to raise the public's environmental awareness as well as to encourage them to cultivate habits of waste reduction and recycling, and integrate such habits into their daily lives.
The spokesman reminded the public that the recyclables submitted for registration of the GREEN$ smart card cannot earn any GREEN$ points at the same time. The EPD encourages the shared use of one smart card by members of the same family to speed up the earning of GREEN$ points. A person must show the smart card when redeeming gifts in order to protect his or her interest. The EPD has launched a two-week promotional period from today until November 30. Members of the public can enjoy a special offer of registering for a GREEN$ smart card by dropping off just 1kg of recyclables at Recycling Stations or Recycling Stores that have commenced operation. They can also earn extra GREEN$ points during the promotional period. For details, please visit the Waste Reduction website at www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/community/crn_intro.htm. Similar early bird offers will also be provided at Recycling Stores that are progressively commencing service in various districts to encourage the public to participate in the scheme early.
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