Picture of this edition

Government introduced Plastic Shopping Bag Levy

About eight billion plastic shopping bags are disposed of in Hong Kong¡¦s landfills every year. This creates a heavy burden on our landfills. With the enactment of the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, a levy scheme is devised to encourage the public to reduce use of plastic shopping bags. The levy scheme came into operation in chain or large supermarkets, convenience stores and personal health and beauty product stores on 7 July this year. 50 cents are charged for each plastic shopping bag given out at these retail outlets. More details could be found from the Environmental Protection Department¡¦s Website: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/psb/en/index.html

To help reduce waste and protect our environment, please bring along your own bag when shopping.
  

PolyU to launch its first Environmental Week

An Environmental Week will be held from 12 to 16 October 2009 on PolyU campus. This event, organized by the Health, Safety and Environment Office (HSEO) with great supportive efforts of the Facilities Management Office (FMO), will focus on energy saving and environmental protection. Relevant information about energy-saving and carbon-reduction strategies of PolyU and other organizations will be exhibited on campus at FG wing.

An environmental movie titled ¡§HOME¡¨, made up of aerial images which have been filmed in more than fifty countries around the world, will be screened at Chiang Chen Studio Theatre on 13 October 2009. In addition, an environmental talk on carbon footprints will be held to promote general awareness on environmental protection.

Further information will be posted on our website as soon as possible.

 

  

Green roofs on campus are in the pipeline

Green roofs on buildings are becoming more popular in modern cities as a result of the increasing concern on environmental protection and sustainable development. A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil which not only provides more green space but also helps rainwater absorption, insulation as well as in lowering urban air temperatures.

In PolyU, the Campus Development Office (CDO) is carrying out projects on the construction of green roofs. Five green roofs on different buildings of PolyU will be built in two phases. The first phase includes Core VA (Shaw Amenities Building), Core S (Communal Building) and Core U, with a total area of about 1,870 square meters. The construction work has just begun and is expected to be completed in mid October 2009. The second phase includes roofs at Library and Core P, encompassing an area of around 2,742 square meters. This second phase of work is in the tendering stage with construction details to be confirmed.

With more greeneries and plants being grown on campus, PolyU will certainly become a more environmentally sustainable community.

Government launches Air Quality Objectives review

The Hong Kong SAR Government has launched a four-month public consultation on the Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) review that will end in November 2009.

The current AQOs of Hong Kong have been in place since 1987. The Government plans to updates these objectives to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines as a long-term goal in order to further improve the air quality for protection of public health. The Air Quality Objectives to be revised include sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, ozone, respirable suspended particulates (PM 10) and fine suspended particulates (PM 2.5). To help achieve these new objectives, various emission control measures, which may have different degrees of impact on the general public, have also been suggested. More details may be found from the consultation documents obtainable from District Offices, Regional Offices of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Public Libraries or EPD¡¦s Website.

Bins for recycled paper distributed to PolyU Offices

Innovative and sturdy recycling bins for paper have been distributed to PolyU offices by FMO. Designed by PolyU School of Design, this bin (470mm (w) x 250mm (d) x 630mm (h)) has substantial capacity to accommodate the volume of recyclable waste paper generated in the office. Examples of such waste paper include:

  • Office paper (e.g. letterhead, copy paper, business forms) and photocopies
  • Colour paper
  • Newspapers Index cards
  • Envelopes and folders (remove adhesive flaps and plastic windows)
  • Standard business cards
  • Brochures, magazines, newsletters, unclassified reports, books and telephone directories (remove plastic covers, plastic-coated paper and ring binders)
  • Corrugated cardboard and toilet roll cartridges
  • Packaging paperboard (if not on plastic-coated paper)

 

Environmental Newsletter
September 2009
Health, Safety and Environment Office