E-waste recycling encouraged in Hong Kong

In an effort to combat the >70,000 tonnes of computers and electronic equipment thrown away in Hong Kong every year, the region’s Environmental Protection Department has launched the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment Recycling Programme (WEEE). The initiative encourages schools and the community to donate used electrical and electronic equipment to non-governmental organisations.

Caritas Hong Kong is one such organisation, having set up a recycling centre in Kowloon Bay where people can drop off used computers, monitors and laptops. The centre collects an average of 50,000 computers and 8000 notebooks a year, about 10% of which are successfully repaired. The rest are dismantled and have their usable parts sold to government-approved recyclers.

Thomas Yip, who runs the Caritas Hong Kong computer workshop, explained that second-hand computers, if deemed re-usable, are fixed and sold to low-income families at a discounted price. For example, the Law family was able to purchase a second-hand notebook from the company for $699 (AU$110), enabling the Law children to study online at home.

Last year, the Environmental Protection Department took WEEE to schools to encourage students and teachers to properly dispose of used electrical equipment. More than 7700 pieces of equipment were recovered from 172 schools - a 40% increase in recycled units since 2013.

The department has also capitalised on the traditional household clean-up in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year, with a festive WEEE recycling collection service organised for 26 January to 13 February. About 600 housing estates and residential buildings have signed up for the service.

The government now plans to open recycling centres in different districts, with the centre in Sha Tin to accept not only electronics but also glass and other products. The Environment Bureau also plans to submit a waste electrical and electronic products-related bill to the Legislative Council, to further promote recycling.