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Waste reduction

Waste reduction:  Mr Wong visited the Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School to inspect the arrangements for on-site meal distribution and enjoy a “green” lunch with students.

Schools' food waste could be halved

September 21, 2012
Under the on-site meal-portioning projects in schools, it is estimated that the use of 62,000 disposable containers can be avoided every day and schools' food-waste generation can be reduced by 50%, Secretary for the Environment KS Wong says.
 
He made the remarks on a visit to the Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School today, where he saw its on-site meal portioning project and on-campus environmental facilities.


The Environmental Protection Department launched the on-site meal portioning projects in schools through the Environment & Conservation Fund in December 2009. The fund subsidises school conversion works and the retrofitting of basic facilities to help them implement on-site portioning and avoid using disposable tableware.
 
Since the scheme's launch, the fund has subsidised 94 schools, of which 92 have completed the conversion works. Food can also be served according to students' needs to reduce food-waste generation and preserve food freshness.
 
Mr Wong inspected the meal distribution arrangements and enjoyed a “green” lunch with students, chatting with them to learn how the school reduces food waste and promotes healthy meals. Student representatives briefed him on ways they collect and treat food waste to promote a green school.
 
He said more than one third of the 9,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste disposed of in Hong Kong’s landfills everyday is food waste. Food waste reduction and its proper treatment is an essential element in implementing waste reduction at source, which in turn reduces the amount of waste disposal at landfills.
 
He also saw the school’s solar greenhouse, rain water collection system, solar weather station and lighting, and campus greening. School reporters interviewed him, and he and gave them some tips on environmental protection and greening.
 
Mr Wong said the Government must map out a holistic strategy to tackle the solid waste problem, and a particular focus would be on food waste. The Government would exchange ideas with green groups and stakeholders.
 
“We have to tackle different sectors one by one, because there is about one-third of waste from the commercial and industrial sector, while the rest is from the residential sector. So we need to work with different stakeholders to map out the corresponding strategies to reduce food waste,” he said.


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