Green team: Deputy Director of Housing Lau Kai-hung (fourth right) presents the Green Property Management Award to Tin Yuet Estate representatives.

The Domestic Waste Separation at Source Scheme will launch in 30 housing estates this year to encourage tenants to separate recyclables, Deputy Director of Housing Lau Kai-hung says.

Speaking at the Green Property Management Award Presentation Ceremony today, Mr Lau said the scheme will facilitate the collection of recyclables by garbage collectors, increase the rate of recycling and reduce the burden on landfills.

Of the estates earmarked for launching the scheme, eight have separation bins on every floor. Another five have made arrangements for collection of plastic materials.

Discussions will be held with the Estate Management Advisory Committees of the remaining 17 estates to decide on the best approach for implementing the scheme.

Collection points

Collection points for spent rechargeable batteries will be set up at all estate offices to enhance environmental protection awareness.

Noting the Housing Department's remarkable achievements in waste reduction and recycling, Mr Lau said more than 3,400 tonnes of waste paper, 178 tonnes of aluminium cans and 133 tonnes of plastic bottles were collected from public housing estates from April to December last year.

"Domestic refuse generated by a public housing tenant has been maintained at a daily average of 0.82 kg for two consecutive years, representing 25% less than the daily average of 1.09 kg created by a Hong Kong resident in 2003-04," Mr Lau said.

Since the introduction of a scheme for collection of spent fluorescent tubes in 2002, more than 100,000 tubes have been collected for recycling from the 64 participating estates.

Nineteen 19 estates were acknowledged under the Green Property Management Award. Tin Yuet Estate won the Housing Department Category.