A Successful Waste Separation Plan

Appendix I

A. Importance of Waste Separation

Waste separation at source can enhance the homogeneity of the waste recovered and minimise its level of contamination. Both the technical and economic hurdles for recycling can then be lowered and this increase the recycling viability.

The following figures illustrate the relative price of different kinds of well-sorted recyclables:

B. Some Tips to Increase the Value of Your Relatively Low-value Recyclables

Paper

Paper waste is divided mainly into 5 grades in the market: high grade paper such as white writing paper & computer printout, paper board & containers, corrugated containers, old newspaper and mixed paper, in decreasing order of market price. It is advisable to sort separately for the high grade paper if its quantity is substantial. For most recovery programmes, sorting for mixed paper is easily manageable. Stick to the following separation practice to ensure the waste paper recovered is recyclable :

Do Collect	Don't Collect
· Pure paper waste (e.g. office paper, letter, forms, envelopes [remove plastic window], newspaper and magazine [not on glossy paper], books & reports [remove plastic covers and plastic ring binders], etc.). [Note : paper clips, staples, rubber bands need not be removed] · Clean and dry paper waste.	· Composite materials (e.g. packaging with paper, plastics, aluminum foil and other materials, glossy paper, plastic coated paper, etc.). · Wax paper, adhesive paper, carbon paper, blue print & fax (thermal) paper. · Contaminated paper waste such as tissue and toilet paper, lunch boxes, paper cups.

Plastics

Plastic waste is divided by resin type (chemical form) and there are quite a number of resin types being used in the market. As the homogeneity of the feedstock waste is particularly important in plastic recycling, the plastic waste being recovered in Hong Kong is mainly industrial scrap which is relatively homogeneous, dry, clean and stable in supply. Recovery of domestic (post-consumer) plastic waste has a very limited market because of its heterogeneous and contaminated characteristics. The major forms of domestic plastic waste in the market include PET bottles (mostly mineral water and soft drink bottles), film canisters and large plastic containers such as baskets. It is advisable for you to secure an outlet before deciding on the form of plastic waste to be recovered in your programme.

Do Collect	Don't Collect
· Homogeneous waste (of a single resin type such as PET bottles, film canisters). · Clean and dry waste. · For bottles, rinse and remove accessories such as lids and labels which are usually made of other materials or resins.	· Composite materials such as plastic packagings. · Contaminated waste such as food containers.

Glass Bottles

While most of the locally-filled glass beverage bottles are being recovered for reuse by the beverage manufacturers through deposit-refund schemes, there is only a very limited market for the non-refundable glass bottles. These non-refundable glass bottles, if recovered, are either rinsed for reuse or crushed for overseas recycling. It is advisable for you to secure an outlet before recovering these non-refundable glass bottles.

Do Collect	Don't Collect
· Bottles with deposit-refund scheme. · Bottles with lids and labels removed.	· Small or irregular-shaped bottles unless you have secured an outlet. · Containers of hazardous chemicals unless throughly rinsed.
· Bottles with residues removed.	· Other forms of glass such as light bulbs, window glass and mirror unless you have secured an outlet.