Residents of the Tai Hang neighborhood will soon have a new way to recycle their food waste, as organizers prepare to roll out a innovative pilot program in the coming weeks.
Sponsored by the government’s Environment and Conservation Fund, the initiative will place five smart recycling bins throughout the community, targeting 40 older apartment buildings and so-called “three-nil buildings” that lack formal management.
“We are aiming for 700 to 1,000 households to use our scheme,” said Jeff Wong of the New People’s Party, who is helping coordinate the project. “Later on, we will organize talks and workshops to educate residents on using the recycling system.”
The purple bins will be equipped with features like fill-level detection and automatic deodorization, making it easier for residents to dispose of their food scraps. Organizers will also set up a collection station to gather the waste twice a week.
The pilot builds on a similar program launched last December, which installed smart bins in select private housing estates. Now, officials are bringing the technology to the densely populated Tai Hang area, home to many older apartment blocks without formal management structures.
“This is an important step in Hong Kong’s efforts to reduce food waste and promote sustainability across all neighborhoods,” a government spokesperson said. “We’re excited to see how this pilot performs and whether it can serve as a model for future expansions.”
The Tai Hang recycling program is set to run from November 2024 through September 2025. Organizers will closely monitor participation rates and resident feedback as they assess the initiative’s long-term viability.
