Finland recycles 99% of its municipal solid waste, with only 1% going to landfills.

The country's waste management system is highly automated, using technologies like the MetroTaifun system with pneumatic pipes.

Finland recycles around 22% of its plastic, with up to 95% of plastic waste processed at Fortum's Riihimäki plant.

Vantaa's incinerator burns 150 tons of waste daily, producing 920 gigawatt hours of district heating and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% annually.

South Korea has a well-organized waste management system with local authorities collecting and recycling waste.

The country introduced waste levies in 1995, achieving a high recycling rate of over 60%.

South Korea has a strict classification system using paid garbage bags, achieving a recycling rate of over 50%.

Taiwan has introduced a waste levy and the "Resource Recovery 4-in-1 Program" to improve waste management and promote recycling.

Singapore has a 51.7% solid waste recycling rate, with licensed enterprises providing waste collection and recycling services.

Japan is recognized for its successful waste disposal through recycling and strict laws.

Countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have successfully implemented waste management practices through government-led initiatives, including waste levies and strict separation measures.

Public education campaigns and continuing education on waste separation and recycling are crucial for increasing public cooperation.

The "3R" equation prioritizes reduction and reuse, and is used by countries like South Korea.

Countries like Finland, South Korea, and Taiwan can serve as models for effective waste sorting and recycling.

Effective waste sorting and recycling require government support, public education, and technological innovation.

Citizen involvement and government support are crucial for effective smart waste management.

Finland recycles 99% of its municipal solid waste, with only 1% going to landfills.

Title:

Content: Finland is the European leader in municipal solid waste recycling
Today, 11: 56 AM
Photo: vantaanenergia.fi
It took a little more than 20 years for Finland to almost completely abandon the landfill of solid municipal waste.
At the same time, giant landfills, even if they are closed, are not reclaimed here, in the Russian sense of the word, but turned into a source of income.
Currently, 99% of the country ’ s garbage is sorted and recycled.
Only 1% of the total amount of MSW produced has a chance to end up in a landfill.
One of the largest closed landfills is located in the satellite city of Helsinki – Espoo.
Its area is comparable to 280 football fields and is almost 200 hectares.
It is not surprising that after the closure, an industrial center was formed on its territory, in which enterprises for the generation of electricity and heat from landfill gas, as well as enterprises engaged in the processing of certain types of secondary raw materials (waste paper and glass) are concentrated.
In Ekpoo is the headquarters of the famous Finnish energy company Fortum.
It occupies a special place in the circular economy of waste.
In particular, it is engaged in the processing of plastic.
Up to 95% of the plastic in the waste generated by the Finns goes to its plant in another satellite city of Helsinki, Riihimäki.
Here, in automated production, plastic is sorted, cleaned, crushed and granulated.
According to experts, about 22 percent of all plastic waste is recycled in Finland.
The maximum percentage of plastic that can be recycled reaches about 80 percent, and they are striving to come to this figure in the coming years.
Non-recyclable plastic waste enters the furnace, where during combustion, heat is released, which, thanks to turbines and a water heating system, becomes electricity and hot water.
Containers without garbage trucks and five containers on chips
One often hears the astonished stories of relatives and friends living in St. Petersburg about how separate garbage collection is organized in Helsinki.
Visiting the Finnish capital in recent years has not been difficult.
Of course, a simple tourist is not up to landfills and thoughts about where and who takes waste, but there is something that will not remain without the attention of travelers.
A resident of St. Petersburg, Alexander often went on business trips to the capital of Finland, Helsinki.
He says that in some neighborhoods of the city there are containers that are not serviced by garbage trucks.
Our company for business trips often rented apartments, garbage from them had to be taken out by yourself.
You know, it is very unusual, not only to sort waste into five types (biomass, paper, mixed waste, cardboard and plastic), how much to understand that the containers are equipped with sensors that, when filled, report this to the waste control panel and the garbage is pumped out of the container via a pneumatic pipe, immediately getting to the recycling point.
Not everyone has access to such containers, but only residents of the microdistrict, since a special key-chip is needed to open it, - Alexander.
Such a waste sorting and collection system has been developed and implemented by the Finnish company Marimatic.
The technology is called MetroTaifun.
So far, it is only available in one suburb of the capital.
As its developers write, the entire system is automated, from each container its own pneumatic pipe delivers waste directly to the plant, where when raw materials arrive, its processing begins (additional sorting, grinding, pressing, etc.).
Perhaps, this will look like in the future the treatment of municipal waste in large megacities.
It's tomorrow's business.
What's today?
Large metropolis surrounded by recycling facilities
The peculiarity of the “garbage reform ” in Finland is that the country started it later than other European countries, so it could take advantage of other people ’ s experience and avoid mistakes.
The main thing on which the bet was made was to find ways to prevent waste from reaching landfills.
To do this, a separate collection of waste was introduced, which captured not only container sites and households, but also stores, as well as the manufacturers of goods themselves.
In cities, waste-free fast food and restaurants are not uncommon, hundreds of entrepreneurs find new niches for the use of secondary resources (for example, they produce fabrics from threads of previously used things), open second-hand and much more.
In almost every shopping center there are vending machines for receiving containers.
Around Helsinki, in its cities satellites built a network of sorting stations.
They specialize in certain types of waste.
All stations are located almost within the city limits.
Organic waste, which is usually the source of the garbage smell, is immediately taken to the plant for composting.
The whole process here is automated and produced in containers isolated from the environment.
Residents of neighboring high-rise buildings do not even think about what kind of object for sorting, recycling or recycling is located nearby.
The strict sanitary and environmental standards adopted in the country do not give any chance for environmental pollution.
Unsorted waste and so-called "tails" in the metropolitan area are taken to the incinerator in Vantaa.
There, the first incineration line was launched in 2014, the second in 2020.
The construction was not cheap - 300 million euros.
The plant is operated by Vantaan Energia.
Every day it receives up to 150 tons of waste.
According to the company on the website, the plant can burn up to 400 cubic meters of waste per second.
Every five seconds, he burns the annual volume of garbage produced by a Finnish family of three.
The German technology known as the Düsseldorf System is used here: the combustion temperature is about 1000 degrees Celsius, from the waste receiving bin it enters the rolls, where it is crushed and gradually lowered into the combustion chamber.
Thus, the filtration system eliminates harmful emissions.
Every year about 700 tons of various materials, mostly heavy metals, are extracted from flue gases and disposed of by Ekokem in Riihimäki (another suburb of Helsenki).
Slag is exported to the Emmassuo landfill, and gravel bottom slag is used in earthworks.
Now the company is testing a technology that allows the use of the ash formed.
The main difference from the German analogue - ignition is made by gas, not fuel oil.
The plant has built a bunker that allows you to store waste in reserve so that the technological process does not stop.
After all, the incinerator is also a thermal power plant, which produces 920 gigawatt hours of district heating per year, which is almost half of the needs of the city of Vantaa, and 600 gigawatt hours of electricity, which is 30% of the needs of Vantaa per year.
According to environmentalists, such production is more economical refers to resources, since fossil fuels are practically not used here.
The combined effect of producing such a volume of heat and electricity allows us to talk about a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, compared with the fact that the TPP operated on traditional fuels.
The reasons for this success were commented by the co-chairman of the Green Shield environmental society, editor-in-chief of the Ural Meridian news agency Alexander Anikin.
The main distinguishing feature of Finnish reform is the correct emphasis.
Garbage was immediately considered as a source of energy.
Therefore, energy companies have joined the recycling process, which are used to being responsible for both the quality of services and environmental friendliness.
The tasks were immediately global - to sort and return to circulation secondary resources, as well as to prevent the simple storage of waste at landfills.
It is this approach that radically changed the industry, making it strategic from purely communal.
Innovation and technology can and should be adopted, as our northern neighbor does.
It ’ s also a lesson we need to learn.
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The country's waste management system is highly automated, using technologies like the MetroTaifun system with pneumatic pipes.

Finland recycles around 22% of its plastic, with up to 95% of plastic waste processed at Fortum's Riihimäki plant.

Vantaa's incinerator burns 150 tons of waste daily, producing 920 gigawatt hours of district heating and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% annually.

South Korea has a well-organized waste management system with local authorities collecting and recycling waste.

Title:

Content: Waste management in Hong Kong starts early and matures late. How can we catch up with Taiwan, Shanghai, Korea and the tail lights of the starry cars?
Author: 01 Weekly Report
Published: Updated:
Hong Kong's environmental protection policy has not made great progress. For many years, it seems that it has remained at the stage of "blue waste paper, yellow aluminum cans, coffee plastic bottles", and there is no plastic reduction policy.
Last year, the mainland stopped the import of waste paper, and Hong Kong recyclers also stopped collecting waste paper.
When the Government is faced with Members' questions on plastic reduction and countless initiatives by environmental groups, it is always in a state of "discussion" with the retail and restaurant industries, "under consideration", lest it harm the economic interests of the industry, and would rather harm the environmental benefits than see any actual action taken.
On July 1, 2019, the Shanghai Municipal Domestic Waste Management Ordinance was officially implemented.
At Haihong Bridge Station on the railway line, volunteers are promoting a little knowledge of garbage classification. (Visual China)
On the other hand, after years of vigorous promotion, waste management is well organized and highly efficient: South Korea ’ s waste management system is at the forefront of Asia, with Seoul being the most effective.
The local municipal authorities have the responsibility to collect, recycle and dispose of domestic and commercial solid waste. Waste management in Taiwan once lagged behind Hong Kong, but due to the early introduction of the waste levy policy by the Taiwan government, and then formulated a complex and effective waste management system, the situation in Singapore is gradually reversed. Shanghai launched the “Shanghai Municipal Domestic Waste Management Ordinance ” in 2019. The complicated measures have caused complaints from the public. Over time, the results can be said to be immediate after the people have familiarized themselves with the regulations.
Looking at the situation in these four Asian regions, it is not difficult to imagine why there is no systematic waste management in Hong Kong today, when we look back at Hong Kong's garbage collection practices, which rely entirely on the people's consciousness to separate and unsupervised waste.
For more details, please read the 285th issue of Hong Kong 01 (4 October 2021), “What should Hong Kong look for in Taiwan, Shanghai, Korea and Star? ”.
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The country introduced waste levies in 1995, achieving a high recycling rate of over 60%.

Title:

Content: Hong Kong ’ s slow progress in environmental governance – why not look at the Greater Bay Area and the world?
Author: Liu Mengting
Published: Updated:
In 2005, the SAR Government proposed to develop a recycling economy, that is, to reduce the environmental burden by repairing, recycling and extending the service life of materials, to find a way out for recycling recyclable materials, and to promote the development of related industries and promote economic diversification.
However, more than a decade later, Hong Kong ’ s circular economy has not made much progress.
In this regard, some scholars suggest leveraging the advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
At the same time, Hong Kong ’ s waste management policy is not yet climate, and we must match the experience of “top students ” such as Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.
Circular Economy Enemies the Greater Bay Area
Professor Patrick Poon, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has been developing a patented technology for converting waste glass into environmentally friendly bricks since the 1990s, with a view to improving the recycling efficiency of waste glass.
Green brick is a kind of concrete brick, can effectively use construction waste and waste glass, the third generation of green brick has been put into the market as paving brick.
For more than 20 years, the technology has been optimized by scholars to the fifth generation, but it is still “technology without market ”.
In an interview with "Hong Kong 01" recently, Poon mentioned the two main reasons why the development of the local green brick industry is hindered, which is also the dilemma faced by Hong Kong's circular economy.
Pan Chih-sheng says that the research on green bricks has been successful, but the price is not competitive. (photo by O'Cara)
One of the main reasons is that local manufacturing has caused the high enterprise products to lose market advantage. Poon analysis, because the whole production process of environmentally friendly bricks produced in Hong Kong is completed in Hong Kong, and the land price and labor in Hong Kong are very high, and the price has also risen with the water. It is necessary to open up the market to achieve maximum trade liberalization, so the possibility of contractors choosing Hong Kong materials for profit considerations is very low.
On the other hand, the Hong Kong government has not introduced relevant policies to require the actual use of environmentally friendly materials, in the absence of just the premise, the market share of environmentally friendly bricks is unstable, and the current use of the third generation of environmentally friendly bricks is about 20% more expensive than natural sand bricks, so the project side may not consider the use of environmentally friendly bricks.
Another major obstacle is that the government did not help. Pan Zhisheng pointed out that environmental protection bricks are made of recycled materials, although the quality and performance of the bricks are not lost to natural sand and stone, but the quality difference is greater.
However, according to the existing government regulations, the two are regarded as the same, that is, the quality of environmentally friendly materials is too high, but it may still be regarded as unqualified due to the degree of quality difference. This single regulation is a constraint for the application of environmentally friendly bricks. If the outlook does not improve, it will be more difficult to attract investors.
Under such a vicious cycle, the government has no intention to invest or give support, and the environmental protection brick industry chain has become a dead end.
The recycling rate of local waste in Hong Kong is low, and exports are facing many restrictions.
In an interview with Hong Kong 01, Wong Woon-chung, director of the Johan Centre for Applied Forestry Research in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), Hong Kong Baptist University, pointed out that the land resources in Hong Kong are tight, such as the opening of a recycling plant for recycled materials will double the cost.
Mr Wong stressed that the circular economy requires complementary advantages from different regions. There is no way out if the development vision is limited to Hong Kong. (photo by Mr Cheng Tze-feng)
Waste management in Hong Kong is inefficient and should be seen around the world
South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan implemented waste levies in 1995, 1996 and 2000 respectively. Since then, they have gradually developed comprehensive and mature environmental policies with local characteristics.
Hong Kong's waste management system has been fragmented for many years, and it is time to look at the world and learn from advanced experience and thinking.
Hong Kong ’ s waste management policy has not been good for many years, and the climate should be on par with other regions. (Photo by Tsai Cheng-pong)
Korea has introduced waste utilization measures in a multi-pronged manner to achieve long-term management, so the Korean waste management system is at the forefront of Asia.
For example, the city of Seoul, which has achieved the most remarkable results, introduced a series of supporting measures in a few years to change the entire waste treatment model, public perception of waste and living habits after the implementation of the garbage levy system in 1995.
In contrast, the Hong Kong Government is always "discussing" with the industry and "considering" the initiatives of environmental protection groups.
Taiwan is also a leader in waste management in Asia.
The Taiwan government sent a special cleaning team to collect household waste from residents using two types of recycling trucks – yellow garbage trucks are used to collect general waste from residents using official garbage bags, and white garbage trucks are used to collect raw and cooked food waste, plastic and other recyclable resources.
As early as 1997, the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency launched the "Resource Recovery 4-in-1 Program", which fully mobilized the role of the government, manufacturers, consumers and licensed recycling enterprises in waste management, not only to skillfully distribute the financial costs, but also to reflect the principle of impartiality.
Singapore has a small population, similar to Hong Kong, but the waste recycling work is more professional and centralized.
In Singapore, three waste management enterprises are licensed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to provide waste collection and recycling services to residents in different parts of the country. The waste is meticulously classified into paper, plastic, glass and metal, and the garden waste is collected separately.
In the recycling process, incineration plants reduce the volume of waste by 90%, and then use 3% of non-incineration and non-recyclable waste to landfill to reduce the environmental burden.
According to statistics, Singapore ’ s solid waste recycling rate reached 51.7% in 2020, a model that Hong Kong can learn from.
As for the administrative efficiency of the Mainland, it is also worth reflecting on the Hong Kong government. In July 2019, Shanghai implemented what has been described as the “world ’ s most stringent ” waste separation measure.
First of all, its domestic waste is strictly divided into four categories, namely recyclables, hazardous waste, wet waste and dry waste; secondly, if individuals or units do not dispose of garbage in accordance with the classification, they will be punished with severe high fines.
Under the mandatory implementation of the government, Shanghai residents have achieved good environmental protection results after experiencing "pain".
The Garbage Levy Ordinance has already been introduced, but the Government must not be complacent about it, but must think about how to tie in with the Ordinance in the next step, and adopt a systematic and comprehensive thinking to achieve long-term waste management.
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South Korea has a strict classification system using paid garbage bags, achieving a recycling rate of over 50%.

Title:

Content: Bauhinia Party ｜ The Dilemma and Countermeasures of Hong Kong ’ s Waste Management System
Author: 01 Forum
Published: Updated:
Author ： Shi Lei
The author believes that many of the current garbage collection disputes have been implemented to the feasibility level, in fact, are related to the inadequacy of the behavior system of residential areas to place garbage, and some of the shortcomings have not been collected garbage bags to make up for.
Its shortcomings mainly include: almost all residents of the garbage can be carried out 24 hours (such as a fixed garbage room and a long "business hours"), each residents of the garbage room often let the residents put garbage into (super) large garbage bins, and each garbage room corresponding to the number of residents, resulting in if there is a "black sheep" do not buy a levy garbage bag to throw garbage, they can walk without obstruction.
Property companies or FEHD contractors may have to wait for a long time before they find a "bad horse" in the process of comprehensive garbage disposal, but at this time it is difficult to claim responsibility, which leads to the "polluter pays" principle in fact is empty words.
The recent Jordan fire has also reminded all walks of life in Hong Kong that there are a large number of "trivial" old tenements in the most prosperous city center in Hong Kong, with chaotic personnel, lack of property services, and unethical behavior, resulting in a large number of public safety risks.
In these places, even property fees are difficult to ensure that the tenants pay in full, and how can the executive power to ensure the implementation of the levy garbage bag system? If the measures to effectively and timely remove the "black sheep" from the institutional level can not be designed, and the implementation level will be discounted for various "objective reasons", then it will form the behavior of "bad money driven away from good money".
Soon, no one will follow the requirements of the levy garbage bag system to do, and the criticism is rife, may the next government will abolish the annoying garbage collection system as a "moral government".
Refer to the garbage disposal policies of representative regions of the world, you can see that their garbage classification, collection of garbage bags and other systems are "devil in the details", often in the geographical environment, the unwritten rules of behavior in the residential community, and institutional protection, etc., to ensure that timely detection, isolation and failure to classify, pack and dispose of garbage according to the system requirements, and minimize the possibility of "black sheep".
For example, in the European Union, Belgium, where I lived, they have long promoted charging garbage bags.
Similar to Japan, Korea and Taiwan, residents have a fixed time to throw garbage (usually early in the morning on certain days), and garbage bags containing garbage should be placed in designated places.
It can be imagined that there is no requirement for garbage bags to be filled with garbage, but the specified bags are filled with garbage that should not be loaded or excessive garbage will be rejected.
The main way of living in the city of Leuven, where the author was at the time, was a single building or an apartment building (but the floor is usually no more than 10 floors, and the residents do not exceed 50 households). Once the garbage bags are found to be not in compliance with the regulations, whether it is the city government or the apartment manager, the difficulty of tracing is not great, and the surrounding residents will actively cooperate.
For example, Japan, Korea and Taiwan are using garbage levies to regulate the classification of citizens and reduce waste. The above areas must use the volume charge, through the use of garbage charging plastic bags to implement polluter pays.
In addition to requiring residents to place garbage (in the correct bag) in the designated location at the specified time, Japanese and Korean garbage bags are more meticulous in sorting.
For example, Japan, which is more familiar to Hong Kong people, requires transparent bags (not limited to specific models but must be transparent, can be tied) to quickly confirm that the garbage classification is correct, and the bag is combustible garbage, plastic, metal cans, etc., or non-recyclable and non-combustible waste.
Recyclable waste paper, etc., does not need to buy a separate garbage bag, but needs to be properly wrapped. Although Japan has a much higher density of living than EU countries, neighbors will pay more attention to not sorting garbage and will not delay the action.
South Korea's recycling rate is also more than 50%, the main reason is the strict classification of garbage bags, different from a kind of paid garbage bags in Hong Kong, South Korea is a variety of paid garbage bags, and each garbage bag can only contain one kind of material, and according to the difficulty of recycling to determine the price of garbage bags, the more difficult the recovery, the higher the price of garbage bags.
As a result, South Korea ’ s recovery rate is higher.
As for the Taiwan region, in addition to adopting a regular garbage collection mode similar to Japan, in the area where there are no conditions to set up a garbage room, there is a garbage truck and recycling truck every night, and the song of the snow truck comes to the small area.
This requirement is even higher, and residents need to actively show up at a specific time, so recycling workers can more accurately and timely eliminate the "black sheep" that do not pack garbage according to regulations, and therefore refuse to accept or take other measures.
It is worth pointing out that I have only visited Japan, Korea and Taiwan on short trips, and only stayed in commercial hotels.
Therefore, details such as the garbage system in residential areas are indirectly obtained through online KOL sharing, live scene dramas and other channels.
Please note that there are errors.
From this, it can be seen that the problems existing in Hong Kong's current waste management system and the waste management experience of advanced regions abroad have produced the following suggestions that deserve serious consideration and reference by the Hong Kong Government and relevant departments:
1. Improve the behavior system of residents throwing garbage.
First of all, the public garbage room and the garbage disposal place in the residential area should no longer be allowed to throw garbage 7x24 hours.
To consider formulating standards, such as limited delivery time and designated delivery points, for the reference of the entire Hong Kong property management industry, the FEHD will implement them to prevent the "black sheep" from evading garbage bag charges.
2. Strengthen the management of "no matter" areas, standardize the premises and methods of refuse collection in areas where property services are lacking, and ensure that the refuse charging system can be effectively implemented even in these problem areas.
3, with reference to the practices of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other places, after the successful implementation of the garbage collection system, it continues to optimize, the implementation of more detailed garbage classification management, according to different materials and recycling difficulties to carry out differentiated charges.
This will increase the willingness of the environmental protection industry to handle high-difficulty waste, while increasing the residents ’ enthusiasm for sorting and waste reduction.
Critics may think that the institutional construction of these areas requires a long period of time and a large amount of resources to invest, and may not be able to be directly replicated in the real environment of Hong Kong.
Moreover, the improvement of the relevant system requires no small investment of resources.
Perhaps this is precisely the original intention of the SAR Government to levy a "short and fast" garbage levy.
However, it is already clear that the "short and fast" has only attracted doubts, and even if it is forced to push forward, it will also be at the expense of the government's recognition.
Moreover, the "black sheep" can not be effectively eradicated in a timely manner, which will inevitably make the garbage collection system become "half suspended". Only a few able and willing citizens are willing to do so (such as cooperating with "green in the area", and working hard even in the hot sun at the recycling point to deliver their own recyclable plastic waste to the recycling point of respectable citizens). Go your own way, the system cost has been paid a lot, and the problem to be solved by the garbage levy is still the same.
No matter what kind of solution is adopted, the government will need some time to refine the design of the refuse collection system and promote it more vigorously.
The implementation of the principle of garbage collection in the European Union, Japan and Korea, and Taiwan is not completed in three or two months.
Garbage collection needs the long-term cooperation of residents, change the long-term behavior habits can be completed in a few months?
How can this be called good governance and good governance? If you cook for the government, you can't be anxious and work hard for the government for a long time, you can only make a well-intentioned system truly have the positive meaning it should have.
The author is a researcher at the Bauhinia Institute for Policy Studies.
The article is only the opinion of the author and does not represent the position of Hong Kong 01.
Please email us at 01view @ hk01.com.
Please attach the author ’ s real name and contact details.
If not applicable, no notice will be given.

Taiwan has introduced a waste levy and the "Resource Recovery 4-in-1 Program" to improve waste management and promote recycling.

Singapore has a 51.7% solid waste recycling rate, with licensed enterprises providing waste collection and recycling services.

Japan is recognized for its successful waste disposal through recycling and strict laws.

Title:

Content: Bauhinia Party ｜ Refresh Waste Charges
Author: 01 Forum
Published: Updated:
Like most Hong Kong people, I did not have any concept or awareness of garbage collection, until I heard that it was officially implemented on April 1 this year, and I began to pay attention to it.
In fact, the legislation on waste charging has been passed by the Legislative Council as early as August 2021, and the specific provisions of waste charging are actually very simple and clear, that is, based on the "polluter pays" principle, all waste, whether from individuals, families or groups, or according to the pre-purchased designated garbage bags, or according to the weight of the waste, the "entry fee".
As for the government's intention to implement waste charging, it is also very clear and simple, that is, to force the public to reduce waste and recycle through charging, and promote the sustainable development of ecology.
Author ： Zhou Xiaojao
Although the rules are simple and clear, it is not so easy to really land.
In order to pay less, people will try to pack more garbage into garbage bags. How should those crowded garbage bags be tracked and handled? In order to pay less, people will dispose of their garbage in public places such as streets, parks, markets, shopping malls, etc., how should such behavior be identified and enforced? As for the different groups that produce large amounts of waste, as well as the property, cleaning, refuse collection and other organizations that assist in the disposal of waste, a series of countermeasures are also required.
It is in view of the complexity of implementation that the Government has set aside a preparation period of up to 18 months for the formal implementation of the Ordinance.
However, the general public, like the author, did not really start to pay attention to the new policy, which will affect every household, until the first two or three months of its implementation, and there was a lot of uncertainty and doubt. Ming. "
But the question is, is the disruption caused by garbage charges really just a problem of insufficient publicity?
How to deal with garbage is an old problem faced by cities, especially large cities.
Specifically, there are three core issues surrounding the garbage problem: First, how to control the amount of garbage generated? Second, how to encourage the classification of garbage management? Third, how to deal with different types of garbage? The first issue mainly relates to the source of garbage: how to avoid excessive packaging?
How to promote the environmental protection of packaging materials? The second issue relates to the recycling of waste: how to guide the public to separate and collect different types of waste according to the difficulty of recycling? The third issue relates to the fate of waste: simple stacking, centralized landfill or recycling, incineration and power generation?
In response to the above garbage issue, Hong Kong has not made a satisfactory response for a long time, let alone effective action.
The lunch boxes purchased on the street are still foam or plastic that cannot be decomposed. Shopping bags provided by shopping malls are also plastic products, and the goods purchased from the mainland are wrapped in plastic layer after layer.
There was a time when Hong Kong encouraged the classification of kitchen waste and the production of agricultural fertilizer from kitchen waste. Unfortunately, this good practice failed to persist, and the public has not formed a self-awareness of garbage classification.
A large amount of waste has been sent to the countryside to landfill without any sorting. The existing three major landfills are already overwhelmed, and facilities such as waste power generation have taken more than 10 years to start.
Solving the waste problem itself is a systematic project, involving all aspects, coupled with the interests of thousands of households and changes in living habits, so each country in the disposal of the waste issue mostly adopt a gradual, tailored, durable strategy.
Japan is recognized as the best country in terms of waste disposal. The key to its success is the gradual development of a sense of garbage sorting through half a century of sustained efforts and strict laws and regulations.
Mainland China also tries to start with garbage sorting, although there is a strong enforcement force, but the government still dare not play a game of chess across the country, but choose some cities to pilot first, and then gradually push to the whole country.
In contrast, Hong Kong, which has been lagging behind on garbage disposal, naively uses “polluter pays ” as the ultimate“ killer ’ s mace ” in an attempt to “get it done. ”
This mentality is understandable, but can a simple, one-size-fits-all waste charge really solve the waste problem facing Hong Kong?
Can you encourage eco-friendly packaging?
Can you promote garbage separation?
More importantly, can the current waste charging design really reduce the amount of waste generated?
I am afraid the answers to these questions are not as optimistic as the Government thinks.
If Hong Kong ’ s waste challenge is not effectively addressed, then what is the point of this policy, which costs the time and money of all citizens and stakeholders?
For example, in order to make up for the long-term inaction on reclamation, the SAR Government hastily launched the HK $trillion-dollar Lantau Island Construction Project in the absence of full consultation with the community, making it difficult for the project to ride under the current internal and external environment. The awkward situation.
The author is not sure whether garbage collection will also face similar experiences, but if the publicity and communication in the next few months can not convince the community that the relevant garbage collection policy can effectively solve the garbage problem faced by Hong Kong, then it is necessary for the SAR Government to suspend the implementation of the relevant policy, and redesign the plan to be more gradual and targeted, focusing on effectively solving the waste generation, waste management and recycling. A series of policies, and consistent implementation.
In fact, the above doubts about the government ’ s waste charging policy have emerged since the government first introduced the relevant bill to the Legislative Council in 2018.
Although the Bills Committee set up at that time to scrutinize the relevant bills supported the direction of the Government's waste reduction policy, it also made a large number of recommendations on the effective implementation of the relevant policies. Some members even held different views on whether the relevant fees could achieve the preset targets.
The Government has also responded to the views of the Bills Committee, including improving waste reduction and recycling measures and providing assistance to those in need.
Regrettably, these reasonable measures should be perfect in the two years after the passage of the relevant regulations in the preparatory stage either in the form, or the lack of publicity, and ultimately let this in the design of the innate deficiencies, in the landing and inadequate preparation of the waste reduction policy is likely to fall into the eyes of the public "workers hurt money" and abandoned halfway.
The author, Zhou Xiaojui, is a researcher at the Bauhinia Institute for Policy Studies.
The article is only the opinion of the author and does not represent the position of Hong Kong 01.
Please email us at 01view @ hk01.com.
Please attach the author ’ s real name and contact details.
If not applicable, no notice will be given.

Countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have successfully implemented waste management practices through government-led initiatives, including waste levies and strict separation measures.

Public education campaigns and continuing education on waste separation and recycling are crucial for increasing public cooperation.

Title:

Content: Point of view
Lin Hsiao-lu
Lin Xiaolu: Garbage levy can not be shelved 3 points of improvement can be repaired and reconstructed
[Ming Pao Article] The Government explained the future direction of the waste levy policy at the joint meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs and the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene earlier. It is not easy to take the first step, but it is even more difficult to forge ahead.
Although there is no hope of introducing the garbage levy on 1 August this year, the Government continues to send bags and sign a contract to help all sectors of the community gradually adapt to the policy.
Since this year, the publicity surrounding the waste levy has become popular, especially on how to use designated plastic bags and labels, how to recycle and classify, etc., which has sparked a wave of heated debate.
Behind the heated discussion, people from all walks of life are not only thinking, but also willing to take action.
It is not difficult to see from the results of the "first try" scheme submitted by the Government to the Legislative Council that there is a higher demand for additional recycling packages from various pilot stakeholders.
A serious “try first ” approach is a safe step to explore and deal with problems.
If "disturbing the people" is turned into "convenient people", the government should worry that all sectors of society are unwilling to cooperate with the implementation of the policy.
In this regard, I would like to make the following three suggestions.
The core of the policy is to reduce waste for all.
First, return to the original heart, reduce the waste.
Waste reduction and recycling are global trends and national goals.
Hong Kong is in line with the trend of environmental protection, and it is fair to follow suit.
Explain that the policy should not deviate from the goal, the core of the municipal solid waste charging policy is not the word "charging", but the reduction of waste by the whole people.
The society adheres to the "polluter pays" principle, reducing waste from the source and encouraging recycling.
The Government should continue to explain its policies to all sectors, answer questions and answer doubts, allay public concerns, provide clear training and work guidance for the frontline and the industry, and help the public understand the operation of the policy and its legal responsibilities.
Behavioral psychology often says that it takes only 21 days to form or change a habit.
In many places, garbage is classified very carefully, and there are dry and wet, combustible and non-combustible.
The classification of plastics in Hong Kong is very complicated for many citizens and discourages those who come into contact with recycling for the first time.
Therefore, continuing education for waste separation and recycling is crucial to waste reduction policies.
The Government should liaise with local authorities to encourage the public to adopt a habit of sorting waste into their daily lives, so as to reduce the burden on frontline staff.
Second, cherish the time, check and fill the gaps.
Implementation of environmental protection policies, or experiencing the "981 difficulties", one by one to overcome the difficulties, can achieve positive results.
Practice is the only standard for testing the truth, and there are always omissions and deficiencies in the process of supporting the first step.
The public will gradually cooperate with the laying of recycling facilities.
Changing customs and expanding the recycling network are difficult to achieve overnight.
The successful implementation of waste levies has taken decades of hard work to bear fruit.
Korea and Taiwan have implemented garbage levies for generations, and the problems encountered along the way are not less than those in Hong Kong, nor can they be comprehensively solved.
In the 14 pilot sites of the "first try first" scheme in Hong Kong, all the stakeholders actively collected the designated bags, but the overall utilization rate and disposal volume were not satisfactory.
However, at locations with relatively complete recycling facilities and services, the use of designated bags is relatively satisfactory, and the types and quantities of items recovered have also increased.
It can be seen that as long as the Government properly lays out recycling facilities, the public will gradually cooperate.
Expand the recycling network, like a spider web, from point to line and surface.
In the coming year, the Government should formulate a timetable and roadmap to promote recycling, increase the number of recycling convenience points and recycling mobile points, adjust the density of collection facilities, extend and unify the service hours of collection points and public refuse collection points, and strengthen mobile recycling services in areas where there are no owners' corporations, residents' organizations and management companies.
Government must keep track of progress
Third, open and honest, accurate policy.
The Government should be realistic and strive for time so that all sectors of the community can understand the details of the policy more clearly.
The results of the "Try first" project have exposed many difficulties and pain points. The Government must continue to account for the progress of its work in the coming year, so that the community can feel the sincerity and determination of the Government to solve the problem.
With feedback from different stakeholders, the Government can understand the difficulties and challenges faced in different scenarios and formulate specific action plans and guidelines for households, businesses and the industry.
The waste levy policy is an important part of promoting waste reduction and emission reduction. If you successfully change the habits of the public and establish a deep environmental culture, it is not inevitable to withdraw the levy; but if you delay indefinitely or even shelve it at the initial stage, it is a "self-waste martial arts".
The author hopes that the government will seize the time to implement the garbage levy policy to stabilize the orientation, uphold the "results as the goal" policy philosophy, repair policy omissions, and transform into energy to promote the progress of society.
The author is a legislator.
(Criticism of current affairs articles published by this website is aimed at pointing out errors or deficiencies in relevant systems, policies or measures, with the aim of correcting or eliminating such errors or deficiencies, and improving them through lawful means, with no intention of inciting hatred, dissatisfaction or hostility towards the Government or other communities)
[Lin Hsiao-lu]
Previous / Next News

The "3R" equation prioritizes reduction and reuse, and is used by countries like South Korea.

Title:

Content: 【 Printing 】
Swiss garbage smugglers evade high charges in France
Related LINKS http: / / www.CRNT.com 2024-04-23 10: 11: 12
Beijing, April 23 (Xinhua) -- According to a report by the British environmental consultancy Eunomia, the global recycling rate ranking in 2017, Hong Kong ranked 24th, and Switzerland ranked 9th.
Since 2012, the Swiss government has introduced a tax on garbage bags to subsidize waste disposal costs, but the high fees have led some Swiss to leave their waste in neighboring France.
To this end, the French government cracked down on "smuggling" garbage, blocking nearly 10 tons of garbage from Switzerland, and fined 150 euros each.
South Korea has implemented garbage charging since 1995, and the overall waste disposal volume has been greatly reduced by 40%, and the recycling rate has reached more than 60%.
Compared to “one size fits all ” measures, the Korean government implemented the waste reduction plan in a step-by-step manner.
Waste charging is carried out in the form of bag charging, and then gradually expanded to restrict the use of disposable products, recycling of kitchen waste, etc., to deal with waste in a multi-pronged manner.
The environmental equation “3R ” has a priority: reduce waste, reuse, and recycle. Lisa Ramsden, a member of Greenpeace America, pointed out that large food and daily necessities companies have been promoting recycling for many years, but the results have not been good, so the“ naked buy ” consumption model of Reuse and Refill, that is, self-purchased containers. Buy the required items to really reduce waste at the source.
【 Printing 】
Related News:

Countries like Finland, South Korea, and Taiwan can serve as models for effective waste sorting and recycling.

Effective waste sorting and recycling require government support, public education, and technological innovation.

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Smart Waste Management Market Size to Grow USD 46 Million by 2029 at a CAGR of 17% | Valuates Reports

BANGALORE, India, Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart Waste Management Market is Segmented by Type (Hardware, Service), by Application (Public Occasion, Non-Public Occasion): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2029. It is Published in Valuates Reports Under the Category of Business Operations.

The Global Smart Waste Management Market size is expected to reach USD 46 Million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 17.0% from 2023 to 2029.

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Major Factors Driving the Growth of the Smart Waste Management Market:

The combination of technical breakthroughs, environmental imperatives, and the desire for operational efficiency is driving the emergence of Smart Waste Management. Real-time garbage bin monitoring, efficient collection routes, and reduced operating expenses are made possible by the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and data analytics.

Governments and corporations are adopting smart trash solutions more frequently in order to satisfy regulatory criteria, improve recycling efforts, and lower carbon footprints, as worries about environmental sustainability become more widespread. These technologies' emphasis on public health, community participation, and scalability reinforces their role in converting conventional trash management into a more effective, sustainable, and technologically advanced process.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE GLOBAL SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT MARKET:

Internet of Things (IoT) technology integration is driving the rapid rise of smart waste management. trash bins may now be used to monitor fill levels, trash composition, and operating performance in real-time thanks to the installation of sensors and linked devices. Municipalities and trash management firms may improve overall process efficiency, minimize operating expenses, and optimize collection routes using this data-driven strategy.

The increasing focus on environmental sustainability on a worldwide scale is one of the main drivers of the expansion of smart waste management. The effects of conventional waste management methods on the environment are becoming more and more apparent to communities, corporations, and governments. Global goals for sustainable development and trash reduction are aligned with smart technologies that provide improved waste monitoring, recycling programs, and carbon footprint reduction.

Adopting Smart Waste Management systems can result in significant financial savings and improved operational effectiveness. Waste collection routes may be optimized to save fuel and maintenance costs by utilizing data analytics and predictive modeling. Furthermore, the capacity to identify and resolve problems early on, such as overfilled bins or equipment failures, reduces downtime and boosts the general effectiveness of waste management operations.

Smart trash management systems are becoming more and more popular due to stricter waste management laws and reporting requirements. These technologies make it easier to comply with environmental requirements by giving precise data on trash creation, recycling rates, and landfill utilization. Automated reporting features make it easier to comply with regulations, lessening the administrative strain on waste management agencies, and guaranteeing that the law is followed.

Citizen involvement in trash reduction activities and growing knowledge of the issue have an impact on the development of smart waste management. Residents may take an active role in trash management practices using mobile applications, public dashboards, and communication channels. This increases the overall efficacy of waste reduction initiatives, promotes sustainable behaviors, and cultivates a feeling of community responsibility.

Solutions for smart waste management are flexible and scalable, allowing them to change with the demands of changing urban settings. These systems' modular design makes it simple to integrate them with the current infrastructure and expand their capabilities as cities expand. Because of their scalability, smart trash systems may be customized by municipalities to meet their unique needs and gradually be implemented more widely.

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SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS:

The market for smart trash management is expanding significantly in North America due to a mix of environmental awareness, technical advancements, and the demand for effective waste management solutions. When it comes to implementing smart waste solutions, the US and Canada are leading the way. North American cities are using data analytics, automated collection systems, and IoT-enabled trash cans in greater numbers to streamline garbage collection routes, cut expenses, and improve sustainability in general.

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Key Players:

  • Bigbelly Solar
  • OnePlus Systems
  • Compology
  • Enevo
  • SmartBin
  • Urbiotica
  • IoTsens

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DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS!

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-Smart Waste Management System market is projected to reach USD 4032.9 million in 2029, increasing from USD 1521 million in 2022, with the CAGR of 15.0% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

-Smart Waste Management Solutions for Smart Cities Market

-IoT Solution for Smart Waste Management market is projected to reach USD 1425.4 million in 2029, increasing from USD 410.4 million in 2022, with the CAGR of 19.3% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

-Digital Smart Waste Management Solution market is projected to reach USD 1425.4 million in 2029, increasing from USD 410.4 million in 2022, with the CAGR of 19.3% during the period of 2023 to 2029.

-IoT-Based Smart Waste Management Market

-Municipal Waste Management Services Market

-Smart Waste Collection Technology Market

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-Smart Waste Bins Market

-Intelligent Waste Management market is projected to grow from USD 494430 million in 2023 to USD 702950 million by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.0% during the forecast period.

-Hazardous Waste Management Software Market

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-Waste Management market is projected to grow from USD 330600 million in 2023 to USD 430530 million by 2029, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.5% during the forecast period.

-Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Waste Management Market

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Citizen involvement and government support are crucial for effective smart waste management.