Support Conscientious Recycling

Handle Electronic Waste with Care



Join Now! "Conscientious Recycling" Charter




Support Conscientious Recycling because we cannot rely on the amoral Hong Kong government to care. This government allows over 5 million units of electronic waste generated by Hong Kong people to be exported to less developed countries.

Support Conscientious Recycling because we have faith in you. Because you care, you would want established in Hong Kong a monitored recycling channel for the processing of second-hand electronic and electrical goods.

Why should the electronic waste be regulated?
Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste in the world. What distinguishes this from other waste is that it is toxic. The cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in the battery of a cell phone, is enough to pollute one third of the volume of water in an Olympic size swimming pool.

The consensus of the international community is that the producers should bear the responsibility for the processing of hazardous electronic waste, see the directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). This directive stipulates that importers and franchised retailers of electronic products should take back and process their used electronic products in an environmentally responsible way. Presently, this directive has been applied in 27 countries in the EU, California and Washington in the USA, and in Asia-- Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Mainland China.

Lamentably, Hong Kong has been tardy in joining this ethical community. Hong Kong's legal bill on the regulation of electronic waste was supposed to be on the table by 2007, but it appears we will only get to see the consultation work launched at the end of January 2010.

Friends of the Earth (HK) is initiating Conscientious Recycling because we believe that the proper processing of waste is a matter of civil responsibility. It is simply wrong and unconscionable to export hazardous electronic waste.

Friends of the Earth (HK) proposes:
1. That the Hong Kong Government refers to the example set by the governments of South Korea and Taiwan which have provided an economic incentive (using a penalization scheme) for producers to meet their financial responsibility in processing WEEE. The Hong Kong government should ensure that importers and franchised retailers of electronic products register and pay a advanced recycling fee before selling their products in the market. The fees collected should be used to establish a recycling fund to promote a regulated and monitored WEEE recycling industry.

2. That the establishment of laws regulating the disposal and processing of electronic waste will achieve the dual purpose of reducing pollution while promoting the development of a green industry, one of the six economic pillars that the Chief Executive aspired to in his policy address.

3. That the installation of a recycling system for electronic waste would prevent the further polluting of farmlands in the New Territories where the dumping of electronic waste, some from waste shipment, is dooming fallow farmlands to wasteland.

4. We wish to establish a network of every second-hand goods buyer in the electronic waste recycling system in order to orchestrate a fast growth ¡§close-loop¡¨ environmental industry which will conduct the recycling work of dismantling used electronic and electric products, remove toxic materials, and re-manufacture into new products for the market, thus creating new job opportunities, as South Korea and Taiwan have done.

Our Actions:

1. Apr 2010: Visit Taiwan (How does she implement WEEE)

2. An overview of the management of WEEE in overseas

3.22 Feb 2010 - FoE submission paper on WEEE to Legco (chinese Version Only)

4.27 Feb 2010:"Conscientious Recycling Exhibition and Forum" (Summary and Video of Forum)

5. "Conscientious Recycling" Charter (Download the reply slip)



Role of Consumer 1. "E-led Life 2009"

Press Release
Articles
FAQ--What is WEEE? (chinese version only)

Welcom to recycle your electronic wastes by St James Settlement
"Waste Electrical and electronic Equipment Recycling Programme"

Financial Secretary support E-waste Recycle?! (Watch Movie Now!)

  
     
 
 
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Reduce paper use and promote paper recycling
If fewer trees are cut down to produce paper, we will have more trees to absorb CO2 which is the gas implicated in global warming.
少砍伐樹木, 幫助減低溫室效應. 據資料顯示, 每公頃森林每日能吸收一公噸的二氧化碳, 放出0.73公噸的氧氣.

Choose electrical appliances with an Energy Efficiency Label
改用能源效益標籤屬於第一級別的電器, 可大大減少電力消耗. 第一級別的雪櫃比普通雪櫃省電35%, 儲水式熱水爐可減少25%耗電量, 第一級別的洗衣機則可以減少用電20%等.

Energy saving
Make sure all your electrical appliances are switched off, instead of just being in standby mode, when you leave the room
睡覺前把不用的電視, 電腦, 微波爐等電器的電源關上, 比起設於備用狀態更加省電.

Keep the room temperature at 25.5 C
Electricity consumption is lowed by 1.5% for every degree Celsius increase in the thermostat
原來每調高1度空調, 一年可以節省1.5%耗電量

When you order a take away,
bring your carrier or reusable container. This helps to reduce non-biodegradable Styrofoam packaging.

Promote paperless office
Promote a paperless office by sending send emails instead of mail and link up your computer network, as this cuts
down on the need for printing jobs which will save paper. Reuse computer print-out paper as memo pads or telephone message pads.

Reduce Water Consumption
When brushing your teeth, use water in tumbler instead of from a running
tap. Take a shower instead of bathing
in a bathtub. Install a dual-action flush in your toilet to reduce
water consumption.

Enjoy natural resource
It's better to rely on natural and ventilation. Leave windows open and switch off the lights and fans which are not in use to reduce energy consumption.

Green consumption
Plan your shopping list to avoid over-consumption, which normally contributes
to household waste. Instead of ending up with many plastic bags, bring your
own shopping bag to hold smaller items. This eliminates unnecessary
consumption of plastic bags and reduces waste.

Say Yes to Public Transportation
Public transport can usually take more people at a time to their destinations,
which reduces your energy consumption. You can also consider
other means of transportation, such as a bicycle or simply go on foot if
possible.

Plants are great!
Growing plants can creat a pleasant working and living space. In additional, they can
also serve as an air purifier and give us all healthier surroundings.