The Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd. - EPS Waste Reduction and Recycling Programme

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS, commonly known as plastic foam) is made from non-renewable petroleum based chemicals. EPS is light, hygienic and commonly used to pack food, drinks, fragile and deformable goods. Usually, EPS products are 98 percent air and only 2 percent polystyrene. In Hong Kong, some 110 tonnes of EPS waste were disposed of at our landfills every day, of which about 80 tonnes were EPS food and drink containers. The amount of such waste occupied a landfill volume equivalent to roughly 250 double-decker buses.

The Hong Kong and China Gas Co Ltd (Towngas) has been adopting the options of reducing and recycling of EPS waste, and has developed a target plan to replace all EPS by paperboards as packaging material of the gas appliances manufactured in China, Japan, Taiwan, etc. Besides, three EPS waste collection points were set up at Towngas's premises. The retail installation contractors have been requested to deliver their EPS waste to these collection points while the bulk installation contractors will deliver their EPS waste to the recycler directly. An EPS waste recycler has been appointed to collect the EPS waste at these collection points regularly.

Two used containers at a total cost of HK$30,000 were purchased for the temporarily storage of the EPS waste. Other than this expenditure, there is virtually no running cost as our contractors and dealers deliver the waste to the collection points or the factory of the recycler on a voluntary basis without any additional charges. The production costs of the gas appliances with carton papers as packaging also remained unchanged. As part of partnership relationship with the contractors and dealers, and as an appreciation of their efforts, Towngas organises free environmental training and activities for these parties.

In 2002 and 2003, 2,648 and 3962 kgs of EPS waste were collected, representing a total saving of landfill space equivalent to roughly 15 double-decker buses. Towngas will continue to implement this Recycling Programme in the coming years. At the end of 2003, most products imported from Asia including cooking appliances, water heaters and range hoods have been supplied without EPS packaging.

In 2003, 73.5% or 44,760 kgs of EPS packaging material has been reduced, representing a total saving of landfill space equivalent to roughly 100 double-decker buses.