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Situation:
Hong Kong generates several types of solid waste. It includes municipal solid waste
(MSW), which comes from domestic, commercial and industrial sources; construction
waste, which arises from construction, renovation and demolition activities; and other
special wastes such as chemical waste and livestock waste.
The problems of recycling industry in Hong Kong are getting serious. Because Hong
Kong has to deal with an unsustainable amount of waste in such a small geographical
area, everyone needs to be aware of what we can do to improve the situation. Landfill
should not be the only destiny for waste. A lot of waste, if recycled, can have a much
more promising fate, it can generate money. But take a close look how government
refused to support recycling. As recycling may cause pollution but the outcome is
worth doing.
Important of Recycling:
Recycling refers to the process of collecting used materials which is usually
considered as waste and reprocessing them. In this process these used materials are
sorted and processed to be used as raw materials for the production of new products.
Recycling varies from re-use in the sense that while re-use just means using old
products repeatedly, recycling means using the core elements of an old product as raw
material to manufacture new goods. Some of the most common items that recycled
are plastic, glass, paper, batteries, aluminum etc.
Benefits of Recycling:
One of the important benefits of recycling is its positive impact on environment. Apart
from decreasing the space constraint in landfills, recycling non-biodegradable
materials reduces the problems caused by accumulation of waste on the Earth.
Another benefit is that recycling saves a major part of energy required for
manufacturing new materials. Even the raw materials required for this process can be
saved.
The reduction of using plastics would help in the conservation of energy. Plastics
prove to be very difficult to dispose. If plastics are to be buried, these can last at least
700 years.
Using recycled products would also reduce the amount of materials that end up in the
landfills. Materials that end up in landfill tend to decompose and cause the release of
methane gas. This is very harmful for the environment; therefore such landfills are
main cause of the emission of methane gas into the atmosphere.
Using the concept of recycling can also help to reduce the greenhouse effect. Gas
emissions occur due to the manufacturing, use and also the disposal of products that
are not biodegradable. If the greenhouse gas emissions reach dangerous concentration
levels, it leads to changes in the temperatures globally, changes in the levels of the sae
other bizarre climatic conditions.
Hong Kong.
Chemical Waste
Chemical wastes are liquid, semi-solid and solid wastes which are hazardous in nature
or constitute a risk of pollution to the environment. Indiscriminate disposal of
chemical waste has very serious health, safety and environmental consequences.
Release into coastal waters causes damage to local marine life and accumulation of
toxins in sea-food generally creates a serious health hazard to the community.
Uncontrolled disposal at municipal waste facilities and into sewerage systems and
sewage treatment facilities threatens the health and safety of the operatives. It also
results in costly repairs and replacement of these facilities as well as disruption to
their operation.
Sample of questionnaires
Liberal Studies Survey
Location:
Gender: Male Female
Age: 15-20 21-25 26-30
Nationality:
1. Do you think Hong Kong is facing the difficulties of the recycling industry ?
Yes
No
2. What do you think is/are causing the difficulties ?
Pollution control Waste handling Waste recycling equipments
Other:___________________________________________
3. Do you think recycling is important in nowadays ?
Yes
No
4. Do you know any recycling industry place(s) in Hong Kong?
Yes
No
4.1) Location:____________________________________
5. Have you ever been to any recycling place(s) in Hong Kong?
Yes
No
6. Does your property recycle any other materials (linens, phone books, oil, pallets,
batteries, etc.)?
Yes
No
7. Are you supportive of environmental protection?
Yes
No
8. Do you have any suggestion to or question about the survey?|
Yes
No
8.1 If yes, please specify: ________________________________________________
Analysis:
According to the questionnaire given and the gathered of information, Hong Kong is
facing the difficulties of recycling industry. The main problems are waste handling,
waste recycling equipments and pollution control. On the research, it shown that the
wastes in Hong Kong are being overfilled. Especially plastics, as many people used to
get a plastics bag whenever they went for shopping in supermarkets, small shops,
food shops or any kinds of shops. In the past years, the system of HK$0.50 has not yet
been realize. More than eight billion plastic bags are disposed of annually in Hong
Kong, significantly contributing to waste management problems for local authorities.
The government claimed that it takes less than two years for the plastic bags to fill up
a space equivalent to the size of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, a
local landmark.
On 7th July 2009, the system of HK$0.50 has been realized after the debating and the
problem of over-used of plastic bags have been decreased and the system went on
until today. Customers have to change their habits and remember to bring along their
own bags for shopping.