Waste charging trial highlights food waste issue
People taking part in the city's waste charging trial scheme on Tuesday said authorities should step up kitchen waste recycling efforts, so they do not need to throw away so much rubbish. The government has given residents and businesses at 14 locations designated green rubbish bags as it tests a planned pay-as-you-throw system. But the manager of a San Po Kong restaurant told an RTHK programme that they are unable to recycle food waste under the arrangements. "No one is collecting kitchen waste from us. If we were to recycle it, we'd have to ask a colleague to take the bin to a collection point and it'd require manpower. Plus, some workers might not be happy to do it," she said. Meanwhile, Kowloon City district councillor Ng Po-keung said residents hope authorities will set up more kitchen waste collection points, and extend the operating hours of food waste recycling trucks. He said residents of Genius Court, which is taking part in the trial, can take their food waste to a truck between 7:30pm and 9:30pm, but many may not have finished their dinner by then. A blind woman, who called the programme, also had a complaint. "I can't tell which colour the plastic bags are and I can't use the kitchen waste recycling bins because I'd need to show a code from my phone to use it, when many people are lining up to use the bin," she said. "It's difficult for us who are visually impaired. Is there a way for us to sign up with the government so it can collect our kitchen waste?" Authorities earlier said they will take note of feedback from stakeholders in the trial scheme and then decide the way forward for the policy.