On 17 May 2019, Business Environment Council Limited (BEC) held its flagship event, the EnviroSeries Conference at The Mira Hong Kong. With the main topic “The Business of Waste – Solving Hong Kong’s Urgent Environmental Problem”, the conference attracted over 200 participants.
Staged twice a year, EnviroSeries Conference is BEC’s flagship event that aims to provide a cross-sector forum for stakeholders to discuss and address key issues related to Hong Kong’s environmental sustainability, and serves as a BEC’s key initiative for thought leadership development on important topical issues.
“The waste challenge often tops our agenda in the area of environmental protection. We are taking a multi-pronged approach to promote the green culture of ‘Use Less, Waste Less’. Sitting at the center of our overall waste reduction strategy is the implementation of MSW charging, which aims to create financial incentives to drive behavioural changes and encourage community to practise waste reduction at source and clean recycling more proactively.” Guest of Honour Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment said in his keynote speech.
Wong added, “Managing waste in any city is an intensive service, which is challenging and we simply cannot do it on our own, but also with different stakeholders in various sectors and the community at large. The contribution from and collaboration with the business sectors and the community is essential. Let’s work together to build a ‘Use Less, Waste Less’ city. ”
“It is encouraging to hear from the speakers that there were sharper focus and greater effort on waste management and sustainable resource management in the last few years. While the government continues to work at full steam in putting forward a masterplan of waste management, we are also pleased to learn that the Hong Kong business sector is also taking a proactive approach towards waste avoidance and reduction.” Richard Lancaster, Chairman of Business Environment Council, said in his closing remarks.
In the conference, speakers and panels explored the recent developments, progress, and the next steps in Hong Kong’s waste management system. It is hoped that business leadership and action will inspire their peers and the wider community to step up to the challenge of reducing waste. — Construction+ Online
