|
Press Release
Joint efforts for a greener Mid-Autumn Festival
A Voluntary Agreement on the Management of Mooncake Packaging and a Mooncake Container Recycling Campaign were officially launched today (September 13).
The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, officiated at both the signing ceremony of the Voluntary Agreement and the opening ceremony of the recycling campaign at East Point City, Tseung Kwan O.
"Jointly organised by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and Christian Action, the "Mooncake Container Recycling Campaign" aims to promote the recycling of used mooncake containers," Mr Yau said.
"Millions of boxes of mooncakes are consumed every year, generating waste such as metal containers and other packaging materials that can be recycled," he said.
From today until October 12, people may return used mooncake containers to the collection points set up at estates, commercial buildings and shopping malls under the management of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited, Citybase Property Management Limited, the Link Management Limited, Hong Kong Housing Authority and Hong Kong Housing Society. The containers collected will be delivered for recycling. People may also return the containers through EPD's source separation facilities or similar mooncake container recovery programmes by other organisations.
In addition to recycling of mooncake containers, efforts are also being made to reduce waste at source in the production of mooncakes.
Five local mooncake manufacturers, Arome, Heng Heung, Maxim's, Saint Honore and Taipan, signed a one-year Voluntary Agreement on the Management of Mooncake Packaging with the EPD to reduce the use of packaging materials on their products.
Under the agreement, the manufacturers will commit to conserve resources and contain the use of packaging materials through better design and production processes, with due consideration of the "Environmental Guidelines on Mooncake Packaging Design" issued by the EPD.
The manufacturers will also strive to adopt recyclable packaging materials and support and facilitate the recovery and recycling of used packaging materials.
People can call Christian Action on 2716 8778 or visit the website www.christian-action.org.hk for enquiries on the collection points. Enquiries can also be made to the EPD at 2838 3111 regarding the recovery of mooncake containers through the EPD's source separation facilities.
Ends/Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Voluntary Agreement on the Management of Mooncake Packaging and the Mooncake Container Recycling Campaign were officially launched today (September 13) at East Point City, Tseung Kwan O. Photo shows the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, signing the Voluntary Agreement.
Photo shows the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony of the Mooncake Container Recycling Campaign with representatives of joint organiser Christian Action and sponsoring organisations.
|
