The General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (commonly known as Kai Fong in Cantonese) released a survey on Friday, in which findings show that over 48 percent of respondents choose to dispose of clothing, leather goods, and shoes by either giving them away or throwing them out with the rubbish.
The survey, conducted between August and September, collected 612 valid responses through both online and offline methods, aiming to assess current environmental behaviours and the public’s recognition of environmental policies.
The results show that more than 56 percent of respondents rarely or never participate in activities organised by the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), indicating a need for greater public engagement and support for eco-friendly initiatives.
To address these concerns, the survey team recommended increasing the number and accessibility of recycling points, particularly in high-traffic residential and commercial areas, to facilitate easier waste disposal for residents.
Additionally, the report suggested optimising waste sorting labels to make them more intuitive, considering the introduction of smart recycling machines, and expanding the types of materials that can be recycled, such as televisions, refrigerators and washing machines, so as to reduce the unnecessary waste of resources, increase the rational use of resources, and further increase the amount of resource waste recycled as well as the effectiveness of recycling.
However, on the issue of whether a domestic waste charging system should be implemented in order to reduce the source of waste, it was found in this survey that 37 percent of the respondents opposed the government’s introduction of a weight-based waste charging system on a trial basis, while nearly 48 percent of respondents indicated that they had no comment.
This graphic released by the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (Kai Fong) on Friday shows the findings of its recent survey on residents’ recycling behaviours.
