Programme on Source Separation of Waste - FAQ

Commendation Scheme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste

Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste (SSDW)

Q1: How can residents of private housing estates join the practice of source separation of waste and waste recycling?

Housing estates and residential buildings with property management companies (PMCs), Incorporated Owners' Committee or Owners' Committee can join the Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste (SSDW) by returning a completed Enrolment Form (available at Hong Kong Waste Reduction Website).

https://pmc.epd-wastereduction.hk/en/Register/ImportantNotice

The Environmental Campaign Committee has been distributing waste separation bins free-of-charge to estates/buildings joining the SSDW Programme.

https://www.ecc.org.hk/en/publicity/ppssw_Residential.html

Alternatively, residents of housing estates and buildings can also bring clean and sorted recyclables to GREEN@COMMUNITY, or Recycling Spots operated by GREEN@COMMUNITY operators.

Q2: What kind of support would the Government provide to estates joining the SSDW Programme? Any obligations for estates in joining the Programme?

Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will provide technical and promotional support to PMCs, such as posters, banners, waste separation bin stickers. With the launching of EPD’s outreaching services, the Green Outreach team will also provide on-site technical and educational support, as well as providing advice on identification of suitable downstream recyclers.

For estates and buildings receiving the free waste separation bins from ECC, the PMCs should place the waste separation bins at noticeable and accessible area(s) within the domain of the estate/building, and ensure the cleanliness, hygiene and maintenance of the bins in order to provide waste separation facility for the residents. The PMCs should arrange periodic collection of recyclable materials for recycling with cleansing contractors or recyclers, and keep their receipts issued by them. We also encourage the PMCs to submit monthly recyclable figures to EPD.

Q3: Where will the recyclables collected from three-colour recycling bins in housing estates go? In particular, will plastic recyclables go to landfill eventually?

The PMCs, Incorporated Owners' Committee or Owners' Committee will consign the recyclables collected from recycling bins in housing estates, commonly known as three-colour waste separation bins, to local recyclers for proper handling, including processing the recyclables into recycled products or raw materials so that they can be exported overseas or supplied to the local market. Taking plastic as an example, after sorting, washing and shredding, it could be used for local production of plastic strip or pellet. The latter is a kind of raw material for further downstream manufacturing operations. The videos below introduce plastic recycling flow of two public housing estates in Hong Kong Island East and New Territories East as good examples:

Transcript (Chinese only)

Q4: Is there any support to individual private housing estates which encounters challenge in identifying proper outlet of waste plastic?

Housing estates which encounter difficulties in identifying downstream recycling outlets for recyclables collected can approach the Green Outreach team in the district for assistance. Depending on the quantity of recyclables collected regularly in the estates, the Green Outreach team will advise on possible collection arrangement, such as off-site collection service by GREEN@COMMUNITY operators. Individual estates can also deliver the clean recyclables to nearby GREEN@COMMUNITY outlets direct during their operating hours.

Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste (SSDW) and Programme on Source Separation of Commercial and Industrial Waste (SS(C&I)W)

Q5: How can PMC submit recyclable figures to EPD?

Estates / buildings can login their account to input and submit their monthly recyclable figures via the website of the Source Separation Programme (Link: https://pmc.epd-wastereduction.hk/en/).

Alternatively, the PMC can also input monthly recyclable figures collected to the Record Form, and return to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Group of Environmental Protection Department (Fax No.: 3121 5730, Email: ssdw@epd.gov.hk / ssc-iw@epd.gov.hk).

This data is fed into the Commendation Scheme on Source Separation of Domestic/ Commercial and Industrial Waste and will be used to determine the winners of the Commendation Scheme.

Q6: How can PMC get Commendation Scheme certificate?

Commendation Scheme Award estates / buildings can login their account to download electronic certificates via the website of the Source Separation Programme (Link: https://pmc.epd-wastereduction.hk/en/).

Q7: I forget the password of my property account. What should I do?

If you are the subject officer of the estate/ building account, you could use the “Forget Password” function in the Waste Reduction Website. An email will be sent to your registered email account and you could follow the instructions stated in the email to reset your password.

If you need further assistance, you may leave an email to EPD.
Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste: ssdw@epd.gov.hk
Programme on Source Separation of Commercial and Industrial Waste: ssc-iw@epd.gov.hk