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 2021.

OBJECTIVE: TO ACHIEVE WASTE REDUCTION IN OUR OPERATIONS

Our Performance

Waste Recycling in Lunar New Year Fairs / Points of Sale of New Year Flowers

Although the Government cancelled the 2021 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs as a result of the pandemic, points of sale (POS) of New Year flowers were set up at 15 sites originally designated for the LNY fairs.  Taking into account the large quantities of recyclables, such as carton boxes, and drinks bottles/cans that would be disposed of by stall operators and the public visiting the POS, we set up recyclables collection points at convenient locations of each POS site to facilitate separate collection of such recyclables.

The total weight of recyclables collected from the POS in 2021 is shown in the table below.

Recyclables collected

Approximate total weight(kilograms)

Waste paper 14 200
Metal 8 100
Plastic materials 800

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 EPD since 1 July 2018.  As of 2021, a total of 53 public markets / cooked food venues under the management of FEHD took part in the Scheme.

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 9 000 litres in 2021.  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 inspect licensed food premises regularly 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 206 238 inspections to food premises and took out 3 090 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, 57 public toilets were refurbished/facelifted in 2021.

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 pests that endanger public health, we adopt 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.

We prefer environmentally friendly methodologies, technologies and products, and consider using non-chemical agents before resorting to pesticides.  We are very cautious in choosing pesticides, so that pest disinfestations are carried out effectively and with the least impact on the environment.  To minimise the detrimental effect on non-target living organisms, we choose insecticides, such as synthetic pyrethroid, which pose less hazard to human beings.  Pests and nuisance-causing animals are disinfested judiciously to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the ecological system.  We also advise stakeholders on how to solve pest problems by improving environmental hygiene.

Mosquito Control

We continue to adopt non-chemical means as far as possible in mosquito control.  Mosquito breeding can be effectively forestalled by killing the insect at its larval/pupal stages.  We apply larvicides 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 were detected but with a low population, environmental control measures such as removal of fallen leaves and debris were carried out to allow smooth water flow in streams so as to eliminate water accumulation.  Local species of mosquito larvae eating fishes were released whenever feasible to abate mosquito breeding.

For the control of dengue vector mosquitoes, we emphasise environmental control measures which aim at eliminating the 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, and is applied to breeding places that cannot be eliminated immediately.  In areas where breeding places are abundant, we put trapping devices using adult mosquitoes as carrier to disseminate biological control agent.

Rodent Control

In drawing up rodent disinfestation programmes, we always emphasise the elimination of food sources, harbourages and disposal routes for rodents to suppress their proliferation.  Trapping of rodents and anticoagulants that are considered to be much safer than acute rodenticides are used, although it takes longer time to kill a rodent.  Internet of Things and video analytic technologies are utilised to facilitate targeted deployment of traps and anticoagulants and enhance their effectiveness.

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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 six 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 670 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 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 58 980 reams of paper in 2021, representing a decrease of 5.2% against 62 209 reams of paper in 2020.  We will keep on promoting environmental awareness among colleagues and endeavor to economise paper consumption.

Managing Energy Consumption

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

Energy consumption of our government buildings and infrastructure facilities in financial year (FY) 2018-19 and FY 2021-22 is tabulated below:

  Energy consumption*
(million kWh)
Energy consumption*
under comparable
operating conditions
(million kWh)

FY 2018-19
(baseline)

207.1 Not applicable
FY 2021-22 235.2 (+13.6%) 205.1 (-0.9%)

* Includes electricity and town gas consumption

Saving in Energy Consumption

The total energy consumption of government buildings[1] and infrastructure facilities[2] under our management increased by 13.6% in FY 2021-22 as compared to FY 2018-19.  Under the comparable operating conditions in FY 2018-19, there was a decrease of 0.9% in energy consumption in FY 2021-22.  We will continue to strive to conserve energy by adopting energy saving measures in our daily operation.

[1] Government buildings include all covered non-infrastructural venues and facilities occupied and/or managed by the Government, their associated open spaces and other facilities that support the main function of the venues and facilities.
 

[2] Infrastructures include facilities, services and installations occupied and/or managed by the Government to meet basic needs of the community such as public latrines and bathrooms, public toilets, refuse collection points and aqua privies managed by FEHD.

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 2021, we conducted carbon audits for 53 buildings.  The total GHG emissions in FY 2020-21 were 106 008 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

We will continue to 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 2021, 36 offices and venues participated in the Scheme and all were awarded Excellent or 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 encourage 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.  Messages on environmental protection, such as the economical use of paper and plastic bags and waste reduction are also covered.  A total of 802 public seminars, school talks and outreaching programmes were organised by the HEERC in 2021.  The Mobile Education Centre (a publicity vehicle) of the HEERC conducted visits to schools and housing estates in the year in its outreaching educational efforts.

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