ContentChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4 Chapter 5

To Achieve Waste Reduction in Our OperationsTo Minimise Environmental Impact in the Delivery of Our ServicesTo Meet the Commitments in the Clean Air CharterTo Promote Green Housekeeping Within the DepartmentTo Promote Environmental Awareness Through Publicity and Educational Programmes

Chapter 4 - ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE

In line with Government's efforts in protecting the environment, we incorporate environmental considerations in the formulation of our policy and deliver our services in an environmentally responsible manner.  The following is an account of our main objectives and performance in 2019.

OBJECTIVE: TO ACHIEVE WASTE REDUCTION IN OUR OPERATIONS

Our Performance

Household Waste Recycling in Waste Collection Programme

In support of the Government's “Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022”, we have provided collection services to 2 908 recyclables collection points in public places, schools, clinics and government venues for the collection of waste paper, metal and plastic materials.  All recyclables collected are delivered to waste recyclers for recycling.

The average weight of recyclable materials collected per month in 2019 is shown in the table below.

Recyclable materials collected Average monthly weight
(kilograms)
Waste paper 42 119
Metal 6 445
Plastic materials 68 448

Waste Recycling in Lunar New Year Fairs

In the year, we organised a total of 15 Lunar New Year Fairs in various locations of the territory.  Taking into account the large quantities of recyclables, such as carton boxes, and drinks bottles/cans that would be disposed by stall operators and the public visiting the fairs, we set up recyclables collection points at convenient locations of each fair site to facilitate separate collection of such recyclables.

The total weight of recyclables collected from the Lunar New Year Fairs in 2019 is shown in the table below.

Recyclables collected Approximate total weight
(kilograms)
Waste paper 16 426
Metal 4 776
Plastic materials 2 049

Food Waste Recycling in Public Markets

To further support the Government's waste reduction initiatives, we have been participating actively in the Food Waste Recycling Partnership Scheme organised by the EPD.  We engaged a service contractor, as from 1 July 2018 when the Government's Organic Resources Recovery Centre Phase I (ORRC-1) at Siu Ho Wan came into operation, to collect source-separated food waste generated from 40 selected public markets and their associated cooked food centres, for delivery to the ORRC-1 for recycling.

Chemical Waste Recovery and Waste Water Drainage at FEHD's Vehicle Depots

Waste lubrication oil, spent batteries and air conditioning refrigerants from FEHD vehicles are properly recovered and collected by approved contractors.  During the year, we continued to use synthetic lubrication oil that can considerably lengthen each service interval for oil changing.  The waste lubrication oil recovered was 6 300 litres in 2019.  Proper drainage systems are also provided for our vehicle washing bays to avoid pollution to storm water drainage.

All the departmental depots are in compliance with the requirements under the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation and Water Pollution Control Ordinance and are issued with relevant licences by EPD.

Use of Retread Tyres

In response to the Government's initiative on waste reduction and environmental protection, retread tyres are used on the departmental vehicle fleet whenever possible.  The current ratio on brand-new tyres to retread tyres is 1:0.3.

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OBJECTIVE: TO MINIMISE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN THE DELIVERY OF OUR SERVICES

Our Performance

Licensing Control and Enforcement on the Operation of Food Premises

We conduct regular inspections to licensed food premises to check compliance with the licensing requirements and conditions, which include -

Enforcement action will be taken against those food premises not complying with licensing requirements and conditions.  During the year, we conducted 192 534 inspections to food premises and took out 2 837 prosecutions against food premises.

Environmental Hygiene Facilities

It is our policy to build properly designed off-street RCPs equipped with modern deodorising systems and vehicle exhaust extraction devices to minimise environmental nuisance to nearby residents. 

Besides, in 2019, 35 public toilets were refurbished/facelifted  under the Public Toilet Refurbishment Programme.

The drainage systems in our facilities, including markets, hawker bazaars and RCPs, are checked regularly to avoid water pollution.  All cooked food markets and cooked food centres have proper drainage systems with grease traps to prevent the discharge of pollutants into surface channels.

Since February 2011, we have allowed stall tenants of public markets not to dismantle serviceable fixtures and installations, such as metal gates and security metal frame/mesh covers, upon termination of their market stall tenancies so that the fixtures and installations may be reused by new tenants.  This arrangement not only reduces waste but also avoids noise and other nuisances generated from the related demolition and construction works.

Pest Control

In the prevention and control of public health pests, we have adopted an Integrated Pest Management approach to rationalise the work to minimise the impact of pest prevention and control on non-target animals and the environment. 

Environmentally friendly methodologies, technologies and products are used.  Non-chemical agents will be considered before adopting the use of pesticides.  We are also very cautious in the choice of pesticides so that pest disinfestations are carried out effectively and with the least impact on the environment.  To minimise the detrimental effect to non-target living organisms, we choose insecticides, such as synthetic pyrethroid, which generate fewer hazards to human beings.  Pests and nuisance-causing animals are disinfested judiciously to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the ecological system.  Advice on environmental improvement for solving pest problems is given to the parties concerned.

Mosquito Control

We continue to adopt non-chemical means as far as possible in mosquito control.  Mosquito breeding can be forestalled by killing the insect at its adult and/or larval/pupal stages.  We apply larvicidal oil or pesticide strictly on a need basis and to specific spots only.

In the year, the control programme against malaria transmissible mosquitoes, covering some 600 streams, was reported with favourable result with no evidence of local transmission of malaria.  In areas where malaria vector mosquitoes are detected but with a low population, local species of mosquito larvae eating fishes are released to abate mosquito breeding.

Control of dengue vector mosquitoes emphasised on environmental control measures to eliminate breeding places of vector mosquitoes (e.g. removal of disused containers and fallen leaves, clearance of surface channels, etc.).  Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is used for killing mosquito larvae.  Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis produces crystal proteins which kill the larvae of limited species, including mosquitoes, blackflies and non-biting midges, is applied to breeding places that could not be eliminated immediately.  Trapping devices using adult mosquitoes as carrier to disseminate biological control agent is implemented in areas where breeding places are abundant.

Rodent Control

In drawing up rodent disinfestation programmes, we always take into account the environmental concern.  Anticoagulants considered much safer than acute rodenticides are used although it takes longer time to kill a rodent.  Trapping of rodents and elimination of food and harbouraging places for rodents are preferred to using chemicals..

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OBJECTIVE: TO MEET THE COMMITMENTS IN THE CLEAN AIR CHARTER

The commitment in the Clean Air Charter to control the quality and volume of emissions of air pollutants has direct relevance to our cremation facilities and the departmental vehicle fleet.

Our Performance

Cremation Services

FEHD manages 6 crematoria.  To control the quality and volume of emissions generated from cremation services, we have -

Incorporating Environmental Considerations in the Use of Departmental Vehicles

Our fleet of 690 vehicles of different types fully comply with the latest statutory requirements in the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) and the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) on emission and Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (Cap. 403) in respect of refrigerant used for the air-conditioning system.  We follow the measures adopted by the Government Logistics Department in vehicle procurement and fleet management to reduce emission of air pollutants as follows -

Moreover, to enhance environmental performance including emission reductions and enhancing energy efficiency, we will continue to participate actively in trials that explore alternatives of environmental-friendly vehicles and electric vehicles and the feasibility of using them in our fleet in order to protect the environment.

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OBJECTIVE: TO PROMOTE GREEN HOUSEKEEPING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT

We are mindful of the importance of good green housekeeping and raising environmental awareness among staff through green messages and regular reminders.

Our Performance

Green Ambassador Scheme

Following the launch of Green Drive in the Department in 2003, we have so far appointed 60 Green Ambassadors and 39 Green Assistants in the Department to co-ordinate the implementation of green housekeeping practices in every district and section, and to monitor the effectiveness of such practices.

To assist the Green Ambassadors and Green Assistants in upkeeping their knowledge on environmental management, we maintain a dedicated green management webpage on our departmental intranet with ample information on the latest green housekeeping measures, and encourage them to attend relevant seminars and workshops.

Managing Paper Consumption

Common paper-saving measures, such as using paper on both sides, keeping photocopying to the minimum, reusing used paper for drafting are widely practised in the Department.  In addition, we –

The Department consumed 56 351 reams of paper in 2019, representing an increase of 14.1% against 49 395 reams of paper in 2018.  The increase was mainly due to an increase in departmental activities in 2019. We will keep on promoting environmental awareness among colleagues and endeavor to economise consumption.

Managing Electricity Consumption

We continue to adopt the following energy saving measures in our offices and venues -

Electricity consumption of our government buildings in financial year (FY) 2013-14 and FY 2019-20 is tabulated below:

  Electricity consumption
(million kWh)
Electricity consumption
under comparable
operating conditions
(million kWh)
FY 2013-14
(baseline)
142.1 Not applicable
FY 2019-20 152.8 (+7.6%) 131.1 (-7.6%)
Saving in Electricity Consumption

The total electricity consumption of government buildings under our management increased by 7.6% in FY 2019-20 as compared to FY 2013-14.  Under the comparable operating conditions in FY 2013-14, there was a decrease of 7.6% in electricity consumption in FY 2019-20.  The reduction in energy consumption is mainly attributable to the implementation of electricity saving measures.

We will continue to strive to conserve energy by adopting energy saving measures in our daily operation.

Carbon Audit Results

Starting from 2018, we conduct annual carbon audit for our major buildings with annual electricity consumption over 500 000 kWh to monitor the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission.

In 2019, we conducted carbon audits for 52 buildings.  The total GHG emissions in FY 2018-19 were 113 616 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

We will continuously work with EMSD to explore practical and effective energy saving and greenhouse gas reduction measures.

Maintaining Good Indoor Air Quality

We care about the indoor air quality of our offices and venues and have engaged EMSD to carry out proper maintenance and retrofitting works for the ventilation and air-conditioning systems concerned, such as regular cleansing of air ducts, replacement of air sterilisers and air handling units at suitable intervals, etc.  Besides, we have arranged for those offices and venues that meet the participating criteria to join the Government's Indoor Air Quality Certification Scheme.  In 2019, 33 offices and venues participated in the Scheme and all were awarded Good Class certification.

Promoting 4-R Principle

We promote the principle of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Replace” and encourage staff to practise it in daily work where appropriate or applicable.  Some examples of the 4Rs are as follows -

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Replace

Using More Green Products

We continue our efforts in using and purchasing more green products.  Green products, such as photocopying papers made from recycled material/renewable forests, clutch pencil and lead refill, pencil made from recycled materials, mercury-free batteries and environmentally friendly soap in liquid and cake form are maintained as our standard stock items to meet daily operational requirement.  We encourage the trade-in of used ink/toner cartridges by arranging contract with trade-in requirements and also arrange the sale of used toner cartridges through auction.  We also procure recycled toner cartridges for our printers in offices; and use plastic bags made from materials with at least 50% recycled plastic content for our district cleansing services.

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OBJECTIVE: TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS THROUGH PUBLICITY AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES

Our Performance

Internal

To increase awareness among staff, we have encouraged our staff to participate in inter-departmental seminars and training in environmental management.

External

To promote public understanding of environmental hygiene, our Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre (HEERC) organises school talks, outreaching programmes, as well as public seminars.  In addition, messages on environmental protection, such as the economical use of paper and plastic bags and waste reduction are also covered.  A total of 2 117 public seminars, school talks and outreaching programmes were organised by the HEERC in 2019.  The Mobile Education Centre (a publicity vehicle) of the HEERC conducted 209 visits to schools, housing estates and public parks in the year in its outreaching educational efforts.

It is our ongoing effort to put across messages on keeping a clean environment to the public through various means, such as broadcasting of television and radio Announcements in the Public Interest, display of posters and stickers as well as advertisements on public transport and social media.  Support is also given to cleansing campaigns organised by non-governmental organisations.

We set up a Facebook page and an Instagram page for Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak to disseminate environmental hygiene messages.

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