In response to social conditions, propose food wise and waste reduction policy initiatives.
Food Commons Foundation's Views on the 2024-25 Budget Consultation
Increase economic incentives to encourage food recycling
Cultivate citizen awareness and practice the concept of food wise
The government will implement municipal solid waste (MSW) charging in April this year. This move is believed to reduce the load on landfills and can also cultivate the habit of collecting and processing general household waste and food waste separately among the public. It also helps deepen the impression of separate recycling. However, many members of the public say they do not understand the garbage levy's details. It is recommended to allocate more resources, use economic incentives to encourage food recycling, reduce waste at source and strengthen publicity and education about garbage levy. Then citizens can better understand its original intention and operational details and put the concept of food wise into practice. The following are relevant comments:
Increase economic incentives to encourage food recycling
· Provide tax deductions for charitable donations of food and encourage industrial and commercial companies engaged in wholesale, retail, food processing and catering industries to promptly donate food that is about to expire but is still edible to charitable organizations to avoid creating food waste.
· Extend "Pilot Scheme on Food Waste Smart Recycling Bins in Private Housing Estates" to support single-storey houses and small housing estates with less than 1,000 households for household food waste recycling, including providing supporting equipments and subsidizing operating costs, so that property management companies and owners' corporations can have greater incentives to install more food waste recycling facilities and actively promote food waste recycling to residents.
Cultivate citizen awareness and practice the concept of food wise
· Actively promote primary and secondary schools to carry out food recycling activities in schools and allocate funds to the Education Bureau to train teachers to educate students on relevant knowledge. So, students can get used to recycling from the practice of campus life, know how to cherish food and take the concept home to influence their families.
· Allocate resources in comprehensive public education to promote the concepts of "wet and dry separation" and "food sharing". All food and other types of recyclables must be processed separately to avoid contamination of other recyclables; if the food has not expired, it should be donated to non-profit organization for charitable purposes.
· Increase funding from the Environment and Conservation Fund for the Food Recovery Education Subsidy Scheme, allowing non-profit organizations to apply for funding to carry out food wise education to people of different ages and ethnicities in the community, so citizens can consciously reduce food waste at the source and make good use of community recycling facilities.
Food Commons Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to rescuing leftover food. Its Food Commons Hong Kong is the first community network in Hong Kong to systematically recycle leftover food in markets across different districts. This program has already successfully rescued 10,836 tonnes of leftover food that were supposed to be sent to landfills and benefited more than 9.37 million people. This project has great social value. Not only does it reduce food waste, but also helps those in need.
Given that the economy has not returned to normal after the epidemic and the impact of factors such as overseas consumption, Hong Kong will still face economic challenges in the future. Therefore, we suggest that when the government prepares next year's budget, they should increase its support for food-wise related measures. Especially when it comes to leftover food processing, the government can implement tax incentives for donating food to encourage people to donate leftover food; set up advanced food waste recycling facilities in various communities and housing estates to reduce food waste; increase resources to promote food wise education and raise public awareness about reducing food waste. These measures will not only create a greener economic environment, but can also reduce pressure on citizens and businesses.
At this critical moment, we hope that the government can actively promote food-wise related measures and promote the sustainable development of society. We hope the government will consider our suggestions.
Food Commons Foundation
19 January 2024
Food Commons Foundation’s comments on publication consultation on 2024 Policy Address
Strengthening Food Recovery and Sharing Networks
Promoting Voluntary Waste Reduction Incentive Schemes
As public concern over environmental issues continues to grow in Hong Kong, the Food Commons Foundation has observed increasing public discussion around waste management policies. Against this backdrop, we wish to offer several recommendations for the 2024 Policy Address, particularly on how to more effectively tackle food waste.
We believe that a multi-pronged strategy is essential in addressing food waste. Among these strategies, we recommend prioritizing food-saving and waste-reduction. This approach not only directly reduces food waste but also addresses social issues and delivers multiple benefits. Specifically, the advantages include:
1. Direct reduction of food waste: Through food sharing, surplus food that might otherwise be discarded is redirected to those in need, reducing waste at the source.
2. Alleviating poverty: Supporting low-income families and individuals with food assistance helps ease their financial burden.
3. Improving resource efficiency: Compared to composting or other recycling methods, direct consumption is the most efficient use of food resources.
4. Fostering social responsibility: Food sharing strengthens community bonds and cultivates public awareness of food conservation and social responsibility.
5. Complementing existing waste management systems: Reducing the volume of food entering waste treatment systems supports and enhances current recycling and processing facilities.
Based on these reasons, we recommend that the government strengthen support for food-saving and waste-reduction initiatives when formulating relevant policies. We believe this will not only effectively reduce food waste but also contribute to building a more comprehensive and efficient waste management system.
Our recommendations are based on the latest community survey results. From June 18 to July 15 this year, the Food Commons Foundation partnered with Shatin Women's Association, Action Health, Tin Shui Wai Community Development Network, and Women Service Association to conduct a community food-sharing survey, interviewing 307 beneficiaries of food recovery and sharing programs. Among the respondents, 79% were aged 60 or above, reflecting the urgent need for food sharing among the elderly.
Survey results show:
67% of respondents receive shared surplus food 1–2 times per week
21% receive it five days a week
84% believe the food-sharing activities benefit their health
92% believe it helps their financial situation
These figures clearly demonstrate the significant impact of food-sharing programs on improving quality of life.
Specific Recommendations
1. Strengthen Food Recovery and Sharing Networks
• Expand the coverage of existing food recovery networks, especially by increasing collection points in densely populated areas
• Enhance collaboration with non-profit organizations to build a more robust food-sharing system, ensuring surplus food reaches those in need promptly
• Pay special attention to the needs of elderly and chronically ill individuals by offering more suitable food options such as fruits and vegetables
Survey data shows:
51% of respondents have high blood pressure
33% have diabetes
26% have osteoporosis
21% have dietary restrictions or special needs, of which 75% require low oil, sugar, and salt
• Increase funding for organizations like the Food Commons Foundation to support expansion of food recovery and sharing networks, improve food storage and transportation facilities, and ensure food safety and quality
• Encourage more community groups to participate in food-sharing programs to expand the beneficiary base
• Provide targeted support for the recovery and sharing of the most commonly distributed surplus food types, including vegetables (82%), fruits (60%), and staple foods (58%) such as grains, bread, noodles, pastries, rice, and biscuits.
2. Promote Voluntary Waste Reduction Incentive Schemes
• Establish a corporate food-saving award program to recognize companies that excel in reducing food waste and motivate the industry to donate food
• Install smart food waste bins in public housing estates and private residential complexes to encourage household participation in food waste recycling
• Encourage commercial building management companies to voluntarily install food waste collection facilities and offer tax incentives or other rewards
• Provide food-related businesses with waste-reduction training and certification, and offer corresponding incentives to certified companies
3. Enhance Public Education and Promotion
• Promote the concept of "Cherish Food, Reduce Waste" to raise public awareness of food waste issues
• Organize community workshops to educate residents on proper food waste sorting and recycling methods
• Promote food recovery and sharing concepts in schools to cultivate environmental awareness among the next generation
We understand the challenges and considerations the government faces in formulating and implementing waste management policies. We believe that by strengthening support for food-saving and waste-reduction initiatives, we can reduce food waste while better responding to social needs and supporting the overall waste management strategy. This will not only improve public acceptance of related policies but also lay the foundation for a more comprehensive and effective waste management system.
The Food Commons Foundation will continue working with local partners to promote food recovery and sharing, reduce food waste, support those in need, and contribute to building a more environmentally friendly and caring Hong Kong. Over the past 15 years, our food recovery and sharing program—focused on surplus food from wet markets and near-expiry packaged food—has rescued over 11,083 tonnes of surplus food from landfills and benefited 9.62 million people. These results clearly demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the food-saving and waste-reduction model.
We urge the government to seriously consider our recommendations and further strengthen support for food-saving and waste-reduction initiatives within the overall waste management strategy. Through joint efforts from the government, NGOs, and the community, we believe Hong Kong can become a more sustainable, compassionate, and environmentally conscious city.
Sincerely,
Food Commons Foundation
Women Service Association
Shatin Women's Association
Tin Shui Wai Community Development Network
Action Health
August 22, 2024