Cluett, Rebekah J., "An Examination of the Viability of Recycling Domestic Waste in Hong Kong"

Many environmental issues confront the world today. The problem of waste management, the generation and disposal of waste, is probably the most immediate in terms of direct impact on peoples' daily lives. Waste disposal has far-reaching effects in many fields such as water quality, air quality, on landfill sites and related issues. Each of these factors contributes to making solid waste management one of the most urgent and challenging issues facing the world today. In light of this situation it has increasingly become obvious that recycling can and must play an important role in the future management of waste.

Hong Kong has a population of approximately 6 million, and is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world yet, daily it is one of the world's largest depositors of wastes into landfills and water systems. Currently, Hong Kong has no established form of recycling. This country presents an environmental situation that can no longer be ignored, action needs to be taken in order to create a better quality of life for its citizens.

The intent of this thesis is to identify a need and establish a method for addressing the issue of recycling domestic waste in Hong Kong. This research establishes the need for recycling, evaluates why recycling efforts have not taken place on a full-scale level and produces a set of viable options for reducing domestic waste. This relationship is established through a review of the current environmental situation in Hong Kong and a review of the literature examining the benefits of recycling and the associated risks of not significantly reducing the waste stream. The product of this examination is a framework for a recycling plan to be implemented in Hong Kong and is applicable to any city wishing to implement a recycling scheme.

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This document was last modified on November 30, 2000.