EPD responds to media enquiries on glass bottle recycling

     In response to media enquiries on a person found disposing of waste glass bottles into refuse collection vehicle as general waste at a residential estate in Kwun Tong, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 27) responded as follows:
      
     The EPD attached great importance to the incident and promptly followed up on the matter with the management office of the estate. It was confirmed that the person concerned was an employee of the cleansing service contractor engaged by the management office of the estate, not an employee of the EPD's glass recycling contractor. In response to this incident, the EPD has urged the management office of the estate to adopt improvement measures promptly, including stepping up the monitoring of the staff of its cleansing service contractor when handling recyclables, such as glass bottles. It is understood that the management office has issued warning to the cleansing service contractor because of this incident.
      
     At the same time, the operator of the Kwun Tong Community Green Station (KTCGS), established by the EPD, which provides glass bottle recycling bins and glass bottle collection services for the estate for free, has followed up with the estate management office and will discuss ways to step up guidance and training provided by the estate for its cleansing workers. KTCGS will maintain contact with all estates and increase the number of recycling bins and strengthen collection services as appropriate to enhance effectiveness of the recycling scheme.