HONG KONG: Glass recycling can become one of the most promising green businesses in Hong Kong, according to non-governmental organization Ever Green Association.

The claim comes after the association Friday revealed the results of a survey of 341 residents at five newly developed public housing estates and the old district of Hung Hom in May.

The results reveal nearly 80 percent of interviewees were happy to return used glass bottles for recycling purposes provided that recycling centers were near their homes.

Eighty-five percent of those who knew glass bottles were recyclable believed the government had not promoted glass recycling. A huge 94 percent believed the government should add glass bottles into the list of recyclable items.

The association's executive secretary, Virginia Ip, said the result reflected the willingness and support of the general public in glass bottle recycling.

According to statistics from the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), there are 600 tons of glass wastes generated in Hong Kong every day while domestic glass wastes account for 240 tons.

The association estimates that more than 10,000 tons of glass materials could be recycled each year if the SAR government took the initiative to promote glass recycling through educating users of glass products and providing more support to the recycling industry.

The association believes public housing estates are stable sources of recycled glass, which can be used in construction and artistic handicraft.

"Public housing estates can provide high-quality recycled glass if the residents are educated well enough. This could greatly reduce the cleaning cost for the glass recycling plants," the association's project manager Tsang Man-chuen said.

(HK Edition 06/06/2009 page4)