Everyday, each and every one of us contributes to the growing waste problem, no matter where you are living.  This is a fact.  We all generate waste.  In our modern world today, our modern waste problems have risen in parallel with our technological advancements, growing economics, massive globalization, and our tasteful lifestyle approach to many matters.  Over the years; discreetly though, society seems to have believed that we can get rid of anything, throw away everything and once out of sight, it is gone; obviously that is not so true.

We are now at a critical moment in time, dealing with more environmental issues than ever before, specifically in solid waste management.  Together, one of our biggest challenges we face now; is how to handle and deal with our ever-increasing volume of waste.  We simply have too much garbage.  Landfills in Hong Kong are filling up fast and at a rate faster than we all anticipated.  With limited space, at moment; there are no new future landfill opportunities in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong generates nearly 10,000 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste per day.  This growing figure includes Domestic, Commercial, and Industrial Waste.  Hong Kong currently has three strategic landfills which are rapidly filling up.  They will be fully exhausted in the next 5 to 8 years.  Recently, a decision has been made to extend in sizing; existing landfills; hoping to cope with this problem.  Notably; this is only a short term solution.  We all know that waste; even over time, is something that will never completely disappear.  When the landfill extension or extensions become full, the question will arise again.  At that time, we will ask again, where do we put our waste now?

A popular solution today has turned towards incinerators.  Indeed the positive aspect of using waste and turning it into useful energy is something good.  However have we solved the problem?  In doing so, creating this type of technology; only means too many that we can simply burn more waste.  Issues such as waste prevention, waste minimization and avoidance, and programs to increase recycling awareness and recovery have yet to be addressed and all key components in the waste hierarchy system.