Kowloon Union Church, 11 Aug 2012
Environmental concern is universal. Glass recycling attracted some 33 participants on a rainy and sunny Saturday afternoon. They were teen, adult and middle aged. Their interests were various but the glass is the focus. Some would like to know how glass collected from bars; some wanted to grasp the clues to promote glass recycling in their community; some were curious about the roles of SAR government and other stake holders; and some would like to hear the voice of glass collectors.
It is no doubt that bars are the main source of waste glass bottles. However, there are quite a number of bars not recycling glass bottles. On every Thurs and Sat mornings, a team 2-5 glass collectors are digging glass bottles from the kitchen waste. This is a tough and challenging task. Apparently three student helpers came in during the summer break. This session of collector sharing brought attendees to early morning scene that that had first of all, changed the late morning practice. To bear the overnight food waste smell, overhead heat and rain, the labeling on waste collectors are not easy. Nevertheless the student helpers have gone through this and realized themselves when they stood up and shared the collection stories.
Another sharing was from Nick of Living Lamma on how the community took initiative and got mobilized to recycle glass. It is the momentum from the bottom up and creating impact on more collection facilitation provided.
Last but not the least; participants came up with glass recycling strategies after the workshop exercise. One was to create deposit system on glass bottles and the other is pushing business to realize social responsibility. Certainly, more needs to be done for glass recycling policy.
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