Producer responsibility: Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau (third from right), and Permanent Secretary and Director of Environmental Protection Anissa Wong (second from right) officiate at the computer recycling programme launching ceremony with guests.

The Environmental Protection Department has launched a city-wide recycling programme, aiming to recover 50,000 items of used computer equipment annually in the first two years.

About 10% of the better-quality items will be donated to the needy and the rest will be recycled.

A city-wide waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling campaign will be staged on January 19 and 20. More than 60 collection points will be provided to encourage the public to recycle used computers and other electrical appliances. About 400 housing estates will also take part in the event.

Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau said today the programme is the second voluntary producer responsibility scheme, after the rechargeable battery recycling programme.

It helps promote greener living through waste avoidance and recovery, and offers a convenient way for the public to recover their old computer equipment for reuse and recycling, he added.

Programme details

Jointly funded and organised by 20 local and international computer equipment suppliers, and with the full support of green groups, the computer recycling programme covers desktop and notebook computers, monitors, scanners and other accessories including hard disks, mouse units and USB external storage devices.

The computer trade has formed a dedicated non-profit making organisation - Hong Kong WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) Recycling Association - to manage the programme.

Mr Yau said the computer trade's commitment to protecting the environment has set an example for manufacturers and suppliers of other products to follow.

Starting from late February, people can bring their used computer equipment to 14 designated public collection points. The programme's recycler will from March onwards provide collection service at participating buildings and estates according to a district collection schedule. About  600 residential estates as well as industrial and commercial buildings have already signed up.

Click here for more details about the programme, or call 2838 3111.