Waste-reduction drive: Secretary for Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao visits a number of estates to see how residents reduce, recycle and re-use rubbish during their annual clean-up before the Lunar New Year.

Secretary for Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao says residents' response to source separation of domestic waste is encouraging.

Dr Liao today visited a number of estates to see how residents reduce, recycle and reuse waste during their annual clean-up before the Lunar New Year.

She invited the public to join in the Environmental Protection Department's "Recycle to Clean, Making New Year Green Campaign" which collects recyclable or reusable materials for resale to recyclers or donation to charitable organisations.

To facilitate citizens' clean-up operations, the department's thirteen refuse transfer stations will be opened for the collection of recyclable or reusable materials from January 21 to 27. For more information, call 2838 3111 or visit the department's website.

Scope of recyclables recovered expanded

Dr Liao was also briefed on the expansion of the scope of recyclables recovered when she visited Shun Lee Disciplined Services Quarters in Kwun Tong.

Apart from paper, aluminium cans and plastic bottles that are currently collected by the 3-coloured waste separation bins, the types of recyclables recovered will be broadened to include other types of recyclables such as plastic bags and biscuit tins.

All government quarters managed by the Government Property Agency will practise this expanded-type mode by the first quarter of 2006.

As of December last year, 223 housing estates with 350,000 households had enrolled in the territory-wide programme on source separation of domestic waste.