Hong Kong has been doing a satisfactory job in waste recovery with the overall municipal solid waste recovery rate rising to 45% last year, Hong Kong's Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau says.

The recovery rate of commercial and industrial waste reached 60% while the figure for domestic waste was about 30%. Speaking on a Hong Kong radio talk show, Yau said there was a 4% drop in domestic waste last year despite population growth. However, a 16% increase was recorded in commercial and industrial waste due to the city's strong economic growth.

He encouraged the public to put more effort in source separation on domestic waste, adding the business and industry sectors should explore more ways to turn waste recovery into business opportunities.

On the proposal to develop integrated waste management facilities, Yau said there is pressing need to adopt advanced technologies to reduce waste volume because landfill capacity will be exhausted in four to eight years.