Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao told legislators today greater public participation, together with keen market demand for recyclables, were conducive to raising Hong Kong's municipal solid waste recovery rate in 2005.

By the end of 2005, more than 200 housing estates with nearly 1 million residents had joined the domestic waste-separation programme, achieving an average of a 50%-plus increase in the waste-recovery rate.

In 2005, the export value of recyclables amounted to about $4.5 billion, she added.

The Government will strive to increase the municipal solid waste recovery rate to 45% by 2009 and 50% by 2014 through policy initiatives such as the territory-wide programme on source separation of domestic waste, producer responsibility schemes and municipal solid waste recovery charging.