I just moved to a housing complex and I am very happy to see recycling collection points everywhere. While paper, plastic and metals are being collected, there is no bin for glass.

Surely glass is one of the easiest materials to recycle, I wonder why it is not being done. Any ideas anyone?

Posted: 2010-Jul-02 07:02:31

Unfortunately, recycling glass does not make a lot of money (for hk). Take a look at the link below, they give out reasons. Link

Posted: 2010-Jul-02 08:32:10

That just means the government should provide more support for it rather than having recyclable materials in the landfills.

Posted: 2010-Jul-03 08:26:25

I agree, at the very least facilities should be provided to collect and crush the glass before it goes to the landfill. Glass is inert, so any glass item will just take up valuable room in a landfill.

Posted: 2010-Jul-03 10:25:46

Well, I wrote to the EPD, this is the answer that I received on the subject of glass recycling:

At present, there is no local glass manufacturing facility and the local glass bottle recycling capability is very limited in Hong Kong.This is a key constraint for territory-wide recovery of glass containers similar to the other recyclable materials (like paper, plastic and metal). We have started glass recycling in some hospitality services like hotels and are working on a feasible way to gradually expand the scope to cover other se ctors. In this connection, you may be interested to note that with the support from the Environmental Protection Department and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Hong Chi Association launched a glass bottle collection programme at 13 public housing estates in late April this year.
For more information about the programme, please visit their website at http://www.hcfc.org.hk/gbrc/b5_index.php.

Meanwhile, a few companies in Kowloon and New Territories that are currently recovering used glass bottles on a limited scale, please be reminded that they only collect specific kinds of bottles and do not normally provide collection service. As such, you may consider to deliver your bottle to Laputa Eco or contact other glass collectors from the following link.
https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/apps/vicinity_result.jsp?collection_type=collector&material_type=glass&district_id=0

Posted: 2010-Jul-06 22:07:08

That's interesting to know. I wonder what the investment is on machinery required for glass recycling. I mean, if there is enough of an industry for recycled glass, surely someone would jump at the opportunity of a new market.

Posted: 2010-Jul-07 07:18:11

Interesting thought, who can we go to to ask this question?

Posted: 2010-Jul-11 09:20:50

there are lots of companies that do "custom" machinery

Posted: 2010-Jul-12 07:43:58

I met someone few months ago who recycle plastic. Will see if he willing to provide some info.

Posted: 2010-Jul-15 15:53:19

I don't think finding the machinery is hard at all. Its really finding the clients that are difficult.

Posted: 2010-Jul-16 08:34:02

Well this is what I am thinking. The Environmental Protection Department and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Hong Chi Association launched a glass bottle collection programme at 13 public housing estates in late April this year.

While there are many residential developments in Hong Kong, there are not that many management companies out there who service them. If the management companies can be presented with a workable program concept for glass recycling, they might come on board. This will only work if the residents are the ones pushing for it.

Posted: 2010-Jul-16 09:00:39

And I think this will only work if they get incentives. Either a big name for them saying the are a true believer of recycling (ie. look good socially) or they make money in return somehow.

Mind you, although there are many residential developments in Hong Kong. Most of the larger ones are managed by only a handful of management companies (the big developers).

Posted: 2010-Jul-16 09:05:34

Thanks for the posting on Glass Recycling program by HKJC and Hong Chi Assoc.
My sister and I were just talking about why there is no glass recycling in HK.
I found the 13 collection point addresses and mapped it on Google Maps. Check this out:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115055527908913160746.00048d6f915fc37c6f01e&ll=22.29711,114.174723&spn=0.001209,0.002411&z=19

Posted: 2010-Aug-10 11:39:10

Map of Glass Recycling Collection points in Hong Kong

Posted: 2010-Aug-10 11:40:13

It looks like there is a fair number of collection points out there. Looking at these closely, a good number of them are government. I wonder what the capacity is for each one of these. I'll see if I can dig it up.

Posted: 2010-Aug-10 11:49:25