Hong Kong has been debating over what to do with its waste as the landfills approach capacity. One good solution is to convert food waste into useful resources (i.e. compost) rather than dispose of it at the landfills.
In 2008 the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) set up a pilot composting plant at the Kowloon Bay Waste Recycling Centre to recycle food waste. After commissioning, the Pilot Plant was first used to treat the food waste generated at the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Event venues. This was followed by a one-year trial operation for recycling of source-separated food waste generated from selected commercial and industrial sectors such as restaurants, hotels, markets, catering and food production industries.
By end of 2009, a total of 230 tonnes of food waste from 19 waste generators had been recycled at the Kowloon Bay Pilot Composting Plant (KBPCP) to produce over 50 tonnes of compost product. From April 2010, EPD has entrusted EMSTF for the improvement works and operation and maintenance of the plant.
Compost produced from the KBPCP could improve soil structure and its ability to retain water, so it is good for not just landscaping but also vegetable and fruit production. EMSTF ensures the quality of the compost produced at the plant by monitoring and controlling the humidity, temperature and rotating speed of the composting units.
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