An association for waste recycling (listed in the Official Gazette with the Portuguese name Associação Comercial de Reciclagem de Materiais Recicláveis de Macau) kicked off a strike on Saturday to heap pressure on the government to devise more measures to shore up the industry, which is allegedly facing multiple challenges.
The association’s call to temporarily shut down operations drew support from many of its members. Since the weekend, the region has seen waste piling up at some of the already-closed stores.
Chan Man Nin, president of the association, stated last Friday during a press conference that their effort would continue until further policies were put forward to address their financial plight. “We will only resume operations once there’s a response reassuring the industry. Otherwise, it’s rather hard for us to survive,” he said.
A combination of surging rental costs, a low return rate in recyclable materials, and a scarcity of venues has plagued the industry, said Chan. He added that their predicament was worsened when most of their workers, forced to deal with collecting materials on the streets and given a limited working area, would end up being fined by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM).
The bureau stressed that no “selective enforcement” was invoked during its inspections, but that those laborers’ conduct in the public space might cause public hygiene issues, reported TDM, citing an IACM official.
Chan urged the government to take pragmatic action in response to recyclers’ appeals or the association would step up their action to the point where even organized drivers might protest on roadways.
The Environmental Protection Bureau promised to study relevant measures for the recycling industry such as those that have been taken in Hong Kong, to see if they might be viable in the local industry.
Macau Green Student Union head Chan Chon Meng also weighed in on the issue, calling on the recyclers’ association to cease its movement, saying that the bulk of waste left unattended on the streets might tarnish the region’s reputation.
According to some recyclers, more than 3,500 tons of paper and metal waste, supposedly recyclable, would end up in landfills or incinerators every week after the strike. The commerce chamber also demanded a venue to lodge the existing stock of waste, as its storage warehouse edges closer to its return deadline of November.
Citizens complain of rubbish piling up
The recycling industry strike yesterday extended into its second consecutive day. Citizens are complaining about the rubbish that is piling up, which has raied concerns over public hygiene.
Meanwhile, tourists told TDM that their desire to return to Macau would be affected if the environment is polluted.
“The hygiene condition is acceptable for the time-being. If the streets aren’t clean, you won’t even want to get out of the car,” a tourist said.
A statement issued by the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) claims that the department is looking into the recycling policies of nearby regions, in order to understand whether the policies have been successful and if they could be replicated in Macau.
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