Press Releases
Country Parks Waste Reduction Campaign launched
Sunday, October 26, 2014
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) held the Country Parks Waste Reduction Day at Tai Hung Tun, Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung, today (October 26) to start the Country Parks Waste Reduction Campaign.
The campaign is a public education programme that aims at encouraging the public to reduce waste at source. This includes using fewer disposable items and more reusable ones as far as possible to help protect the beautiful environment of the countryside.
Officiating at the launch ceremony of the campaign, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, noted that about 10 tonnes of plastics, which is equal to 500 000 disposable plastic bottles, have been collected from country parks in the past year. However, cleaning up trash in the country parks and collecting recyclables is not an easy task due to their remote locations and vast area.
"Given that there are more than 11 million visitors to the country parks every year, I call on every visitor to use less and waste less, and avoid leaving trash in country parks," Mr Wong said.
He urged the public to suitably prepare supplies for visits to the country parks, such as having adequate drinking water in a reusable container. Campers and people going barbecuing should prepare reusable eating utensils and avoid carrying too much food. When they leave, they should take away trash for disposal at rubbish collection points and recycling bins as appropriate, and put the clean recyclables into recycling bins.
"The Environment Bureau released the 10-year Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources in 2013 to encourage the entire community to reduce waste by social mobilisation. The Country Parks Waste Reduction Campaign will tie in with our Blueprint to achieve our vision on waste reduction. The AFCD is also one of the members under the Government's Working Group on Clean Shorelines to enhance public awareness of keeping coastal areas clean through public promotion and educational activities," Mr Wong said.
Country Parks Nature Ambassadors of the AFCD and cadets of the Civil Aid Service will give green tips to visitors at hiking trails, picnic sites and barbecue sites on weekends and public holidays from now till the end of March next year. Visitors who show their own reusable water bottles can collect stamps from the ambassadors. A variety of souvenirs are available for redemption depending on the number of stamps collected. The scheme seeks to encourage the public to proactively participate in reducing waste.
On Sundays and public holidays, game stalls will be set up at the Lions Nature Education Centre, the Shing Mun Country Park Visitor Centre and the Woodside Biodiversity Education Centre. The public will be able to learn about the importance of waste reduction to the natural environment and wildlife. In addition, roving exhibitions are being held at shopping malls to share relevant information with the public.
Details of the activities are available from the AFCD Country Parks Education Programme thematic website (www.natureintouch.gov.hk).
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