Citizens may use disposable umbrella plastic bags for convenience when entering and leaving indoor venues on rainy days.
According to a survey conducted by the environmental organization Green Collar Action, the proportion of venues managed by the government and public institutions that distribute plastic cover bags on rainy days has greatly improved after the Hong Kong government announced in recent years that it would stop distributing plastic umbrella bags.
However, the proportion of private venues that stop sending cover bags is still high. According to the survey, as many as 91% of private venues such as shopping malls and commercial buildings still send plastic cover bags on rainy days.
The Green Collar Action further estimates that Hong Kong people consume a total of 13.36 million plastic covering bags in one rainy season, a slight improvement over five years ago, a slight drop of 3.34%. The Green Collar Action stated that the government should ban the distribution of umbrella plastic bags as soon as possible, setting Legislative Timeline.
Many citizens took umbrella plastic bags when they entered indoor places.
(file picture)
During the rainy season from July to August this year, Green Collar Action conducted a total of 130 property surveys in 18 districts in Hong Kong, including 103 private properties such as shopping malls and commercial buildings, and 27 government or public sector premises, including government cultural and recreational facilities Or venues, vaccination centers, etc., to observe the use of alternative measures such as umbrella plastic bags and umbrella water removers.
The survey found that, among the 130 properties, 99 (about 76%) provided umbrella plastic bags, while 31 (about 24%) did not distribute them.
After further analysis, about 91% of the 103 private properties surveyed this time have distributed plastic umbrella bags, while only 5 (about 19%) of the surveyed government or public institutions still distributed plastic umbrella bags. .
Green Collar Action compares the data of similar surveys in 2017. Five years ago, about 72% of the venues under the jurisdiction of the government or public institutions distributed plastic cover bags; About 19% of the venues have distribution; as for private properties, it has dropped from 97% five years ago to 91% now, a drop of only 6 percentage points.
The Green Collar Action pointed out that in recent years, government departments have announced that they will stop distributing umbrella plastic bags and replace them with umbrella water eliminators, resulting in a significant reduction in distribution places.
However, in terms of private properties, the proportion of properties with handbags is still high.
▼The press conference of Green Collar Action on August 26▼
Green Collar Action stated that during the investigation period, various properties distributed a total of 3,613 plastic covering bags, with an average of 0.93 plastic umbrella bags per minute per property.
The Green Collar Action is estimated based on about 500 shopping malls and 300 government public places in Hong Kong, and taking into account the 300.5 hours of rainfall during the rainy season at the Observatory, plus the survey results, the average data of 0.93 plastic cover bags per minute is estimated.
It is estimated that Hong Kong people consume more than 13.36 million plastic covering bags in one rainy season alone.
However, the data slightly improved from the estimated 13.82 million in 2017, a slight decrease of 3.34%.
Xiao Yanyan, senior public affairs director of Green Collar Action, said the government should set a legislative timetable as soon as possible to ban the distribution of plastic umbrella bags.
The property management industry should also provide clear guidance to frontline staff, should not take the initiative to distribute plastic cover bags, and should assist visitors to use alternative facilities such as water eliminators.
She added that citizens should develop environmentally friendly living habits, dry their umbrellas from excess rainwater before entering the venue, and consider bringing their own umbrella covers or reusing plastic bags.
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