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Government launches Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Programme

The Environmental Protection Department has recently launched the Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Programme. The fluorescent lamps- glass tubes containing metals, phosphorus compound and a small quantity of mercury- are widely used because of their low power consumption. Fluorescent bulbs typically use 65%-75% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb. However, when discarding these tubes, they contain mercury, metals and glass.

This programme helps reducing waste to the landfill as well as recycling some components from the lamps. In general, all mercury-containing fluorescent lamps are collected, including compact fluorescent lamps, fluorescent tubes, and high intensity discharge lamps.

When you dispose of fluorescent lamps, wrap them with packaging material to prevent from breakage. Deposit the lamp into a nearby collection box. Please visit this website of Environmental Protection Department for collection points and further campaign details at: https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/household/flrp_intro.htm

compact fluorescent lamp	fluorescent tube	high intensity discharge lamp

Get recycling bins for rechargeable batteries at departments

The programme for recycling rechargeable batteries has been running for a period of time. We have regularly collected substantial number of batteries at those transparent recycling bins at the entrance of the student canteens (G/F, Shaw Amenities Building and 3/F Communal Building).

Thank you for your support!

To take a step further for recycling promotion and convenience, your department may consider putting up a SMALL recycling box in a common area within your department. If your department is willing to get one, please contact our office
(Mr Ivan Chan, tel: 3400- 8392) for further information.

Antarctic ice shelf disintegrates

Global warming has significant impacts to our environment. It is likely to lead to more frequent heat waves, more intense drought and rain events, and rise of sea level. Recently, many scientists claimed the disintegration of Antarctic ice shelf to be one of the results of warming world. Satellite images can be found in National Snow and Ice Data Center/NASA website-- http://nsidc.org/news/images/20080325_wilkins_figure1.jpg
Ice and snow are more reflective to solar energy than the surrounding sea water. If more ice melts, energy reflected back to space is reduced then energy absorbed at the surface is increased. The affected portion of the Earth will become warmer. This further aggravates the warming process.

Bring your reusable containers for take-away on campus

Sometimes you may get a lunch box from the campus canteens and prefer to eat somewhere else, podium rest bench or your workstation. Many of those take-away lunch boxes and cutlery provided are made of plastic and not advisable for recycling due to hygiene reasons.

Thus, you can help reduce lunch box wastes by bringing in your own container and cutlery. Canteen staff is happy to serve you too. It means you are caring about the environment and less waste production.

Environmental Newsletter
May 2008
Health, Safety and Environment Office