January e-Newsletter : 35th Anniversary Retrospect, Used Clothing Donation, Air Quality Monitoring Data

According to the Air Quality Monitoring Data provided by the Environmental Protection Department, our health is at risk.

Fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) is associated with a host of health problems like asthma, respiratory inflammation and stroke. Recent research has also found that long-term exposure also reduces cognitive performance, increasing the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia. Although roadside air quality has improved over the years as a result of various vehicle emission controls, the average concentration of PM2.5 in all 3 roadside monitoring stations were still above the World Health Organization's Air Quality Guidelines from 2011 to 2017. The government must continue to phase out polluting vehicles and make walking and cycling more comfortable alternatives to safeguard the health of Hong Kong citizens.

To learn more, please visit the website of the Environmental Protection Department.

推可再生能源 燃點環保希望 - 香港建築中心副主席葉頌文 為應對氣候變化，支持可再生能源及推動低碳轉型，已成為本港重點政策。基建及公共建築項目正逐步投放資源於可再生能源。如渠務署小濠灣污水處理廠達110萬瓦太陽能發電場，水務署於石壁水塘及船灣淡水湖安裝兩套各100千瓦的浮動太陽能板發電...

How to be a Smart Fashion Consumer? It’s getting cold these days and makes us feel we need to do some shopping, especially when Christmas is just around the corner. ‘Fast fashion’ has been a term used by the global fashion industry. Fast fashion chain apparel stores introduce fast fashion as affordable and trendy to attract the average customers, with 50 seasons rather than the traditional two of spring/summer and autumn/winter...

Hong Kong’s waste disposal charging scheme may not be perfect, but it’s a good start In 2013, the government published a blueprint aiming to cut municipal solid waste by 40 per cent by 2022. Instead of falling, the city’s disposal rate has continued to climb over the years. It is evident that the current soft measures have not been as effective as hoped and that for Hongkongers, money talks...

垃圾費 不容再拖   本港近年的廢物棄置量有增無減。根據環保署數據，本港於一六年棄置於堆填區的廢物總量高達五百六十一萬公噸，當中都市固體廢物的棄置量為平均每日一萬零三百四十五公噸，較一五年增加了百分之一點八，可見政府過往的減廢及回收措施成效不彰。事實上，堆填區的棄置物有不少是可回收再造的，淪為垃圾不但浪費有用資源，還大大加重堆填區負荷...

回收配套不足 廢物徵費事倍功半 香港每年的廢物棄置量一直驚人，根據環保署數字，2016年每日平均有10,345公噸都市固體廢物被棄置於堆填區，港人每日人均垃圾量為1.41公斤垃圾，較10年前的1.33公斤不跌反升，「垃圾圍城」問題迫在眉睫...

網購退貨損環境 4贏靠買賣雙方 網上銷售看似有無限增長潛力，但是近年冒起的「退貨族」（泛指連環退貨的消費群），卻令網絡零售商承受巨大風險。今年英國信用卡公司Barclaycard報告指出，26%的網絡零售商過去2年來退貨量上升，現時退貨量更高達出售貨品總量22%，其中時裝、鞋履及飾物類更是重災區，退貨率達37%...

Energy Saving Exhibition – Kwun Tong We would like to invite you to join our "Jockey Club COOL Neighbours for Energy Saving” exhibition at Kwun Tong on 4 – 6 January 2019. Join our upcycling workshops and enjoy the booth games!

Business Sustainability Conference 2019 and the Hong Kong Business Sustainability Index Recognition Ceremony Forward-thinking leaders seek opportunities to grow their business by creating profit while protecting natural resources and improving social well-being. Business Sustainability Conference and workshop series, organised by Centre for Business Sustainability of CUHK and co-organised by SGS Hong Kong and Friends of the Earth (HK), brings together academics and business professionals, capture the latest ideas and innovations, develop precision strategies and build capacity to achieve Business Sustainability.

Municipal Solid Waste Charging FoE (HK) sent a letter to Panel on Environmental Affairs of Legislative Council with 6 green groups, urging the members of Legislative Council to pass the draft bill of MSW charging for taking a bold step to minimise waste.

“Municipal Solid Waste Audit and Waste Reduction at School” Programme FoE (HK) organised the first workshop in eight participated schools for their waste reduction student ambassadors. They learnt about the details of the municipal solid waste charging scheme which will be launched, clean recycling and waste separation methods.

Energy Saving Community Exhibition - CityGate Outlet In early December, we organised Energy Saving Exhibition for Tung Chung Neighbourhood. Participants joined our eco-workshops. Children enjoyed booth games and taking photos with the adorable energy saving mascot Polar Bear. Thank you for joining us during this meaningful weekend.  Please stay tuned to JCCN Facebook fan page for the latest information.

Upcycling of the Used Clothes To raise the public awareness of waste reduction, FoE (HK) supports upcycling workshops by donating the used clothes collected from the Used Clothes Recycling Programme. MTR volunteers turned our used clothes into upcycled products, such as tote bags and textile purse, giving the used clothes the second life in December. Meanwhile, we welcome any request from charities for redistribution of used clothes.