Going green with reusable tableware

December 23, 2018

Sustainable table:

The Reusable Tableware Lending Programme provides 5,000 sets of reusable tableware to be lent free of charge to organisers of large scale events.

Good start:

Environmental Campaign Committee Chairman Lam Chiu-ying says the programme has received more than 10 applications since its launch on December 17.

Green guide:

Senior Environmental Protection Officer Cary Wan says the guidance booklet on waste reduction for major community events gives useful advice for event organisers.

Resource collection:

YMT Festival 2018 organisers say they followed the guidebook to reduce waste and promote recycling.

Download Video| Transcript

Voiceover:
Diners dug into a merry feast using reusable chopsticks, forks, spoons and cups at this year’s Yau Ma Tei poon choi banquet, where more than 600 sets of reusable tableware were used.

Environmental Campaign Committee Chairman Lam Chiu-ying (Translation):
To reduce the use of disposable tableware, the Environmental Campaign Committee and the Environmental Protection Department launched a Reusable Tableware Lending Programme on December 17 this year. 

The programme is sponsored by the Environment & Conservation Fund and arranged the production of 5,000 sets of reusable tableware to be lent free of charge to organisers of large-scale events. 

Voiceover:
The poon choi feast capped off the YMT Festival 2018, which showcased the unique culture of Yau Ma Tei through activity booths, a variety show and a dragon dance.

A contractor provided delivery, collection and cleaning services for the tableware used by the diners who filled a basketball court in Yau Ma Tei.

Participants supported the programme and said they wanted to play a role in protecting the environment.

Poon choi participant Ms Chin (Translation):
Disposable tableware generates too much waste, the reusable tableware can be reused after cleaning. I fully support the programme. 

Poon choi participant Mabel (Translation):
Everyone can play a part in protecting the environment. Even though I am an old lady now, I can teach the younger generation to not produce too much waste.

Environmental Campaign Committee Chairman Lam Chiu-ying (Translation):
Since the programme began, we have received more than 10 applications, I believe this is a good start.

Voiceover:
In 2017, the Environmental Protection Department and the Business Environment Council launched a guidance booklet on waste reduction for major community events. More than 40 organisations have pledged their support for it.

With this year’s YMT Festival nominated as a green event by the Home Affairs Department, organisers said they followed the guidelines to reduce waste and promote recycling. 

YMT Festival 2018 Consultant Benny Yeung (Translation):
We have followed the advice of the Environmental Protection Department to reduce waste. For example, we used social media instead of leaflets to promote the event, which helped to reduce the amount of paper used. 

The signage for each game booth can be reused and we set up some recycling bins in different areas for people to recycle paper, plastic bottles and cans. 

Senior Environmental Protection Officer Cary Wan (Translation):
The Environmental Protection Department is working closely with the Home Affairs Department to promote the green event guidebook. We also provide support for waste reduction efforts.

Voiceover:
Ms Wan said the guidebook gives useful advice to event organisers. 

It suggests that they set up water dispensers instead of distributing bottled water to participants, and advises them to provide reusable tableware and to reduce the amount of souvenirs handed out.

Organisers should properly sort waste and set up collection facilities for recyclables and they should also arrange the reuse, donation and recycling of the collected resources. 

Senior Environmental Protection Officer Cary Wan (Translation):
The Flower Show this year was a good example of a green event that followed the guidebook. For example, unsold flowers were collected and distributed to citizens and farms in Hong Kong after the show. 

This year’s Hong Kong Sevens also encouraged people not to use straws. Those who reused plastic cups enjoyed a $10 discount for drinks.

Voiceover:
Ms Wan said the Environmental Protection Department hopes the guidebook can boost waste reduction effectiveness and also help the public prepare for the implementation of municipal solid waste charging.

More than 600 sets of reusable tableware were used at this year’s Yau Ma Tei poon choi banquet.

The poon choi feast capped off the YMT Festival 2018, which showcased the unique culture of Yau Ma Tei through activity booths, a variety show and a dragon dance, and is one of the first events to join the Reusable Tableware Lending Programme.

The programme, launched by the Environmental Campaign Committee and the Environmental Protection Department, aims to reduce the use of disposable tableware.

It provides 5,000 sets of reusable tableware to be lent free of charge to organisers of large scale events and has received more than 10 applications since its launch on December 17.

A contractor provided delivery, collection and cleaning services for the reusable tableware used by the poon choi diners who filled a basketball court in Yau Ma Tei.

Banquet participants said they supported the programme and wanted to play a role in protecting the environment.

“Disposable tableware generates too much waste, the reusable tableware can be used again after cleaning,” poon choi participant Ms Chin said.

Handy guide

The Environmental Protection Department and the Business Environment Council launched a guidance booklet last year on waste reduction for major community events.

More than 40 organisations have pledged their support for the guidebook.

With the YMT Festival 2018 nominated as a green event by the Home Affairs Department, its organisers said they also followed the guidebook to reduce waste and promote recycling.

YMT Festival 2018 Consultant Benny Yeung said: “We used social media instead of leaflets to promote the event, which helped to reduce the amount of paper used.

“The signage for each game booth can be reused and we set up some bins in different areas for people to recycle paper, plastic bottles and cans.”

Senior Environmental Protection Officer Cary Wan said the Environmental Protection Department is working closely with the Home Affairs Department to promote the green event guidebook.

“It suggests event organisers to set up drinking fountains instead of distributing bottled water to participants, and advises them to provide reusable tableware and to reduce the amount of souvenirs handed out,” Ms Wan said.

She also said organisers should properly sort waste and set up collection facilities for recyclables and arrange the reuse, donation and upcycling of the collected resources.

The Environmental Protection Department hopes the guidebook can boost the effectiveness of waste reduction and also help the public prepare for the implementation of municipal solid waste charging.