Recycle in the 852: Where, Why, How

By 2022, each person would throw away no more than 0.8 kg of waste per day - a target set by the Hong Kong government in 2013. Well, we’ve stepped into 2022 and the latest figure for 2020 is 1.44 kg of waste to landfill per capita.

Getting rid of stuff in Hong Kong properly always seems impossible, but if you take a walk around your neighbourhood, you might be able to find some private & public organizations doing recycling.

To all the green souls of this concrete jungle: recycling has been made easy in Hong Kong! The government has stepped up its recycling game since 2020 & expanded the community recycling network to a district level - GREEN@COMMUNITY consists of three types of outlets: Recycling Stations, Recycling Stores and Recycling Spots. Amongst these options, Recycling Stores are the latest additions popping up across HK & offer a range of new recycling experiences (yay, no more confusing coloured recycling bins!).

These community stores are modern & open spaces where you can sort your recyclables properly. Washing stations are available to prepare for clean recycling, remember, all the recyclables must be rinsed properly. What happens if you don’t? You’ll risk contaminating and diverting the whole recycling load – not just yours – to incineration or landfill. The thing is, one single unwashed tin may not ruin the whole load, but if the contamination level is high (when few realizes the importance of cleaning recyclables), the load may be rejected by the recycling system.

Let’s avoid wishcycling by tossing your items into the bins, hoping they will be recycled. If you’re unsure, there’re clear guidelines on the bins  (also covered in an infographic below) or ask the agents in-store.

We love loyalty programs and these stores have their own! Recycling there could earn you ramen, eco bag, card games & many daily necessities. Their rewarding scheme, GREEN$, allows you to earn points corresponding to the weight of recyclables you bring in. To be issued a GREEN$ Card, you’ll have to bring over 2kg of recyclables for the first time. You can even share your GREEN$ Mobile App membership QR code with family members to accumulate points quicker. It’s a great incentive scheme & perhaps will be your motivation to recycle! Wondering what other gifts you could redeem? Here’s the list.

Check out the locations & opening hours of HK Recycling Stores here. During Covid times, it might be best to check each operator’s social page if they’re open or ring them before going.

Demystified: What can & can’t I recycle?

You’ve learnt about recycling, how about your children? It may be hard to explain the big picture of saving the Earth to a kid but we can start by teaching them recycling & there’s no better time to start now.

It doesn’t take long for children to think resources might be limitless, your car is always fuelled up to take them to sports practice and the rubbish bin is the furthest a plastic fork can go. Eventually, we will pass on the keys to the planet to our children and they’ll have to take care of it. Education is the root to raising a climate-ready generation, with all the resources & gadgets available today, learning how to recycle & making it habitual can be more fun than ever.

#1 Make toys & creative things out of waste

Upcycling and recycling can go hand in hand. Children shouldn’t feel the need to whine about having to separate paper from plastic or trash from tins for rubbish collection. Recycling can be an opportunity to make something fun, let them change soda bottles into sprinklers, or milk cartons into planters for their new seedlings to thrive. In addition, children learn about the properties and possible applications of the recyclables, thus fostering their imagination and creativity. Here’s many how-tos of upcycled crafts on our blog, check these out!

#2 Picture books about recycling

Visual depictions help your children to be more thoughtful about what they throw away instead of recycling. Not knowing what books to start with? Luckily, we have some well-read Retykle Ambassadors who have given us some of their book recommendations that tackle a wide range of different aspects of sustainability for younger & older children.

#3 Online games to raise environmental sensitivity

Play is normally their most preferred means of learning. Try out Recycle Roundup by National Geographic Kids, Litter Critters by ABCYa.com, Clean & Green by British Council. Know more of these games? Share them with us in the comments for us to add onto the list!