Ms Michelle Price, the owner of two bars in Wanchai, is the key person to bring me in a meeting with some 10 operators in 2011. That is how Green Glass Green started to partnering with WC bars/restaurants until now.
GGG’s partners are saving glass bottles for recycling within its limited manpower and space. At the time of GGG recycling morning, we observe many beer bottles are dumped at the roadside, on the mailbox/garbage bins. It is likely drinkers buy beers from the 24-hour convenient store and threw it away afterwards. From time to time, GGG did pick up roadside glass bottles for recycling. Other than our action, the beer bottles will definitely be sent to the garbage truck for landfills.
Below is the response of two glass recycling operators on the accusation of not responsible within our public space.
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We refer to Rob Chipman’s letter(“Bars should be made to keep streets clean”, May 13), which requires clarification. Littering of any kind is unacceptable – on that point we all agree. We all need to contribute to rubbish disposal, collection and, where possible, recycling. This is not the sole responsibility of government but a collective effort of the public and private sectors and the population. This collective effort in Lockhart Road, Wan Chai extends to bar, restaurant, hotel and nightclub owners and convenience stores. However, to lay the blame squarely on the bars is an inaccurate and uneducated assumption. As owners of three popular bars in Lockhart Road (the White Stag, Devil’s Advocate and the Doghouse), we have a very rigid daily bottle disposal and collection process we run through Green Glass Green (www.greenglass.org.hk), a fabulous glass recycling initiative run by April Lai. A total of 15 bars in Lockhart Road use this recycling facility. While we sympathise with Mr Chipman’s comments, we would urge the Lockhart Road business community, including the major convenience stores, to collaborate in the same recycling initiative to keep our streets clean, healthy and safe for everyone’s future enjoyment. Michelle Price and Paul Buxton, Wan Chai |
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I can’t help thinking that our community in Hong Kong operates on double standards when it comes to our reaction towards how certain people behave in our public spaces, namely the streets. I, too, am concerned with the mass influx of tourists visiting our city within the context of its carrying capacity, and clearly there is evidence that we are exceeding it. I agree with Michael Chugani (“The real stink”, May 3) that the “peeing toddler” and the public reaction is a symptom of a much larger problem; the lack of government foresight in strategic tourism management. At the same time though, I see our streets being used as a trash tip by our local drinkers, which was evident on May 1, at 8am (the morning after) at the corners of Fenwick Street and Lockhart Road. I was appalled to see heaps of broken bottles, boxes and other litter strewn along the pavements and was thinking this is a lovely sight to see and experience for those who live in this area and for any visitor. Who is to blame here? The patrons? Yes. The bar owners? Yes. The government department which has oversight on street littering? Yes. Shame on all who feel that a certain level of alcohol (and profit) excuses them from being civilised and responsible within our public spaces – who is the true “locust” in the city? David Brian, North Point |
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