Analysis on Hong Kong and Singapore Waste Paper Management Systems

Running head: WASTE PAPER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
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Analysis on Hong Kong and Singapore Waste Paper Management System
Student’s Name
Institution

WASTE PAPER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 2
Contents
1.0 Background of study.........................................................................................................4
1.1 Objectives of study............................................................................................................5
1.2 Significance of study.........................................................................................................6
1.3 Limitations and delimitations of study..............................................................................6
Literature Review............................................................................................................................7
2.0 Introduction.......................................................................................................................7
2.10 Overview of Hong Kong waste paper management............................................................7
2.11 Overview of waste paper management in Singapore........................................................10
2.2 Sustainable growth...............................................................................................................12
3.0 Analysis of the critical issues.............................................................................................13
3.1 Research design...............................................................................................................13
3.2 Research method.............................................................................................................13
3.3 Analysis of the research areas.........................................................................................14
3.31 analysis in Hong Kong...................................................................................................14
3.32 Analysis of Singapore....................................................................................................16
3.33 Comparison of the two countries...................................................................................18
4.0 results or findings of your analysis.................................................................................22
4.11 results for Hong Kong...................................................................................................22
4.12 Results for Singapore.....................................................................................................23
5.0 Policies Implications...........................................................................................................24
5.1 Implications for Hong Kong...........................................................................................24
5.2 Implications on Singapore..............................................................................................24
6.0 Conclusion......................................................................................................................26
References......................................................................................................................................28

WASTE PAPER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 3
Abstract
Waste paper forms about 34% of all the waste materials in the world. The statistics make
paper one of the most significant contributor of waste materials in the whole world. Managing
waste paper is very crucial for the environment and people living in the area. Damaging the
ecosystem will only end up harming the people who live in the area. The best sustainable model
should be used to ensure that the solution given to the different problems are permanent (NATO,
2001). The study has gone through the various methods of waste management used by the two
countries. Hong Kong and Singapore are establishing the best plan that will ensure sustainability
into the future (Nath et al., 2001). The study targeted the two countries whose waste paper
management system is under investigation: Hong Kong and Singapore. The study will give the
reader a clear picture of how waste paper is disposed of in the two countries. The report will
establish different policies and approaches the two countries are adopting and their reception
from the people. The paper also sets the role of every player in the waste paper management. The
part of the government is clearly explained and also what the people need to do to support the
government initiatives that will be rolled out to ensure that such projects are a success.
Chapter One

WASTE PAPER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 4
1.0 Background of the study
Paper is an essential part of life, and everyone needs to use the paper at a particular time
during the day. Therefore, the waste paper will always be there no matter the effort that is
directed to its eradication. The advancement in technology might be trying to bring in the
paperless offices, but the notion has been proven to be untrue since there is no easy substitution
for papers. Paper is a part of our lives, and the status quo will remain at least for the foreseeable
future.
The use of paper as much as it is useful brings in a lot of waste. Over a third of the world’s
waste, every year is made up of waste paper materials (Ndum, 2013). Paper waste, therefore,
makes up one of the most significant percentages of garbage all over the world, not only in Hong
Kong and Singapore. Different countries have been approaching the issue of waste paper
management differently depending on the amount of waste and the best waste management
strategy available. Both of the two countries under study have been employing different
approaches in the management of solid garbage and waste paper.
Waste is technically considered the end of a city's product life and also a significant burden
to the community that lives in an area where the environment is not clean enough. Waste
management is essential in ensuring that the city is clean and habitable. A decent place is
attractive to anyone, and the opposite is also exact. Both Singapore and Hong Kong are trying to
maintain cleanliness in the two cities. There are several factors, both internal and external, that
are derailing the progress of waste management. None of the two countries can boast of having
the best waste paper management system.

WASTE PAPER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 5
Waste paper management has been a significant issue that has been affecting both
communities at different levels. The two countries make up a large portion of the waste that is in
the area. Both Hong Kong and Singapore are the largest producers of waste paper materials per
capita (Ng, 1993). The two countries, therefore, are the best places to study how the waste paper
is managed and what should be done to ensure that the waste is appropriately disposed or
recycled. The importance of studying the two countries' management of waste paper cannot be
overemphasized since they are the biggest producers of such waste in the region per capita.
Comparing the two waste paper management systems is of great importance. The
comparison will help in revealing the different weak points that exist within the two systems.
Also, help in making recommendations that will be helpful for the two countries, particularly in
managing their paper waste.
1.1 Objectives of the study
The study seeks to establish whether the strategies of waste management are sustainable
for the future. The research aims to study the management of waste paper in both Hong Kong
and Singapore. The study gives a comparison of the systems of the two countries' waste
management systems and show the weak points and also show how each state is doing in terms
of waste paper management.
Other objectives of the study will include;
 To compare and contrast the waste paper management in Hong Kong and Singapore.
 To establish the best method to use in waste paper management for the two countries.
 Recommend the best method for each country to use in their waste paper management.

WASTE PAPER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 6
1.2 Significance of the study
The study will be an essential guide on how waste paper management compares for the
two countries and therefore, give the correct picture of the best management practices for the
waste paper. The study seeks to help in uncovering what the two governments have been doing
to properly manage waste and also ensure that the environment is free of paper waste. The study
will give recommendations on the best waste paper management practices that can be utilized by
the two governments. The study will, therefore, be of great significance.
1.3 Limitations and delimitations of the study
The study will be conducted with maximum professionalism though there are some
pitfalls that the researchers are anticipating especially in terms of acquiring information. One
limitation that the researcher is expecting is mostly in the data collection. The secondary data
provided by organizations are mostly not in tandem with the data from the government.
Therefore, this makes it hard for the researcher to be sure of the correct data to be used.
Chapter Two

WASTE PAPER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 7
Literature Review
2.0 Introduction
The section is covering literature work that the study is based on the subject. The chapter
covers the empirical literature on the matter and therefore, gives us an insight into what we are
going to study. The section will provide us with the missing gap and also be critical in stating the
conceptual framework for the study
2.10 Overview of Hong Kong waste paper management
The most commonly used method of waste paper management used in Hong Kong is the
recycling of paper. However, recycling is not at the level that it should be. Of the more than four
and a half million tones of waste paper material recovered in Hong Kong, only 0.38 million is
recycled locally (Raglin, 2013). The other waste paper is mostly shipped overseas for recycling
to countries like Malaysia. With such statistics, it means that the level of recycling is shallow,
and the government needs to do something about the situation and improve the quantity that is
recycled locally.
The papers that are recycled locally are mostly used in the making of two types of
writing. The papers made from recycled materials are coated duplex board and corrugated
cardboard. Both of these papers are mostly used as packaging materials. The products are bought
mainly by the local market since they are readily available. The rest of the products that remain
are exported to other countries, such as China and other countries that are in southeastern Asia
(Pariatamby & Tanaka, 2014). The local market makes up about sixty percent of the entire
market for recycled products.

WASTE PAPER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 8
There is a variety of waste paper not recycled locally but instead collected and exported
to other counties for recycling. The papers include high-value waste papers, newspapers, and
other mixed papers (Pariatanby & Tanaka, 2014). The reason for this exportation is mostly due
to the lack of capacity to recycle such papers Also—, the lack of proper technology to
satisfactorily recycle the papers. The position has been brought down by different issues such as
lack of government support and a lack of citizen awareness.
Data from the Environmental Protection Department said that there are one hundred and
fifteen private paper waste collectors and only two companies recycling the waste. The small
number of paper recycling companies is what causes a lack of capacity for the recycling of
papers and therefore, necessitates the exportation of waste materials. Also, the paper recycling
industry lacks the government's support, and thus, there are not many investors willing to come
into the business. All players in the economy want to go into the field where they have the
government's full support in terms of legislation and goodwill.
Paper recycling has significantly been affected by the lack of government support. The
lack of proper support has led to the derailing of the industry's growth and also discouraging
investment in the industry. The government has neither the goodwill nor the legislation that is
supporting the industry. The government should try to give the sector enough support since they
have a very crucial role in the economy; that of ensuring that everyone lives in an environment
that is clean and the waste paper management is useful. The government can support by passing
legislation such as ensuring that recycling of paper is mandatory for everyone. New policies will
bring attention to the industry and also go a long way in ensuring that paper waste is effectively
managed and taken out of the picture.