Circular Economy
Overview
With the government’s goal of “Zero Landfill” by 2035, it is critical to support the recycling industry. We need to empower operators to maximise the collection and processing of recyclable materials. What role do small and large material recovery facilities play in maximising recycling rates? How can we better recognise the role of informal collection and sorting of recyclables in Hong Kong? How can stakeholders collaborate to improve the quality of recyclable materials recovered from the market?
Learnings
- What are SMRFs and MRFs? How do SMRFs contribute to achieving good quality recyclables?
- What types of material recovery facilities are present in local neighbourhoods? What large and small recovery facilities do we need?
- How can we best utilise the networks of property managers, frontline cleaners, collectors and recyclers to grow the volumes of recyclables at low cost?
Post Event Actions
- Rethink how your company can create space for SMRFs within or next to your properties.
- Discover how to utilise existing networks of recycling companies, collectors and cleaners for bulk collection of recyclables.
- Understand the importance of sorting recyclables at source to achieve efficient recovery, improve recycling rate and the value of the material recovered.
Speakers
MODERATOR
Paul Zimmerman
Chair
Drink Without Waste
Paul Zimmerman
Chair
Drink Without Waste
Paul Zimmerman is a Hong Kong environmentalist, politician and businessman. He is chairing the Single-Use Beverage Packaging Working Group, an alliance of some 50 stakeholders – from manufacturers to green groups – formed to reduce waste from beverage consumption. Its “Drink Without Waste” initiative seeks to recover 70%-90% of PET and liquid carton containers by 2025.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
- Agreement on a Producer Responsibility Scheme for beverage containers in Hong Kong
- Promote a circular economy where used packaging has a market value that incentivises recovery and re-use
- Grow the network of water and drink dispensers in support of people bringing their own bottle
Helga Vanthournout
Director
Wealth of Flows Consulting / ADM Capital Foundation
Helga Vanthournout
Director
Wealth of Flows Consulting / ADM Capital Foundation
Helga helps organisations around the globe set powerful sustainability agendas and find the straightest path towards circular models. Through Wealth of Flows Consulting and ADM Capital Foundation, she brings over 20 years of professional experience, accumulated at McKinsey & Company, the European Chemicals Bureau, and others. Helga authored many critically acclaimed reports on the Circular Economy, including with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
Get the new HKSAR government set its sights on a more comprehensive, powerful waste management strategy for Hong Kong. Continue to initiate, and make circular economy models more accessible for HK companies.
Nigel Mattravers
Head of Communications
New Life Plastics
Nigel Mattravers
Head of Communications
New Life Plastics
Nigel is Head of Communications for New Life Plastics, a chartered civil engineer and waste manager with more than 40 years’ international experience. In Hong Kong, he has been responsible for leading many of the major resource management schemes completed to date and is a proponent of the circular economy.