Waste Management – our Efforts and Challenges

Automatic Waste Recycling Compactor

In May 2007, the semi-automatic waste compression machine at Festival Walk was upgraded to a tailor-made automatic waste recycling compactor. Festival Walk is one of the few shopping malls in Hong Kong using such a waste management facility to enhance recycling efficiency for waste cardboard paper and plastics. During 2007, 847 tonnes of cardboard paper and 69 tonnes of plastics were collected at Festival Walk for recycling. We will explore further upgrade opportunities in other premises.

Benefits of the compactor include:

• Reduced transportation frequency, and thereby reducing CO2 emission
• Greater time and cost efficiency when bundling recyclable materials
• Safer and easier operation for cleaning contractors

Environmentally-sound Demolition Practice

Swire Properties stipulates requirements for Environmental Management Plan, in particular, noise and waste management plans for our contractors within their technical specifications for demolition.

Noise Management

Key requirements include carrying out good site practices, such as using the excavator-mounted hydraulic concrete crusher instead of traditional percussive methods to reduce the impact of noise and dust.

Waste Management

We encourage our contractors to separate construction waste for recycling. In addition, the concrete crusher breaks the concrete into small pieces during demolition, which increases the rate of waste reuse. By using the crusher, we reused and recycled 99% by weight of the demolition waste at the One Island East construction site compared to an average industry standard of 70-80%.

We will encourage adoption of similar technology and practices by contractors for future projects.

Electronic Waste Recycling Campaign

Over 500 items were received in the 2007 electronic waste recycling campaign from our tenants at TaiKoo Place and Cityplaza, with proceeds donated to support local environmental initiatives.

The Electronic Waste Recycling Campaign was launched in 2007 to protect the environment in Hong Kong through managing waste from commercial premises.

We are one of the few property developers to initiate this campaign among our tenants as well as to raise awareness in recycling, in line with the government's initiatives. Similar campaigns are scheduled for other premises in 2008.