Given the problem that we face of Hong Kong’s landfills nearing capacity, I agree with the government’s decision to build an incinerator to burn the large volumes of waste generated by citizens.
More than 13,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste ends up in our landfills every day.
It does not help that this is a densely populated city and many people are wasteful and lazy about disposing of waste.
They fail to recognise the importance of the Three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. Many residents are still unwilling to separate waste and take recyclable material to recycling bins.
We may want to see a reduction in the volumes of waste produced, but are reluctant to take the necessary steps as individuals to help make this happen.
One of the aims of the Environment Bureau’s Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources was to get people to generate less waste at source, as one way of solving the city’s waste-management problem.
The incinerator the government will build will use what is known as “3T” technology to control emissions – temperature, turbulence and time.
Using high temperatures (over 850 degrees Celsius) and high turbulence to mix waste with oxygen thoroughly ensures complete combustion.
Waste and flue gases will be superheated to reduce air pollutants. This means that we may not have to worry about possible air pollution.
The government is doing its part by building the incinerator. Citizens can play their part by embracing the Three Rs principle so that less household waste ends up in our landfills.
We should all try harder to be more environmentally friendly.
Sze Ching-yiu, Kowloon Tong
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Source URL: http://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1931778/letters-editor-march-30-2016