Surge of waste expected during CNY, reaching nearly 1,200 tons daily

The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) expects that during the peak period (the 27th and 28th days of the 12th lunar month) of the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, general waste will surge to nearly 1,200 tons per day.

The IAM reported that daily waste collection has recently increased by 30%, with a notable rise in bulky waste.

During the peak period, bulky waste is expected to surge from approximately 17 tonnes to nearly 40 tonnes daily, while general waste is projected to increase from around 1,000 tonnes to nearly 1,200 tonnes per day.

Residents traditionally engage in spring cleaning before the holiday and replace furniture, leading to an anticipated increase in waste volume, particularly in bulky discarded items.

To meet the demand, the IAM has set up a total of 136 designated collection points for bulky waste across Macau from February 3 to 16 (the 16th to 29th days of the 12th lunar month).

Residents can properly dispose of their waste between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on the aforementioned dates. Among these, 109 collection points are on the Macau Peninsula, 16 in Taipa, and 11 in Coloane.

According to Hong Cheong Fai, general manager of Macau Waste Systems Company, Ltd. (CSR), although waste volume traditionally rises during the festive season, the overall waste volume this year is expected to be similar to the same period last year, with a slight decrease of approximately 1%.

Household waste volume this year is expected to remain similar to last year. However, recent observations indicate a substantial increase in bulky furniture waste.

During the peak period of Chinese New Year, the daily collection volume is estimated to reach approximately 40 tonnes, more than double the usual 17 to 18 tonnes.

To manage the increased waste volume, CSR has intensified collection frequency, with daily vehicle dispatches rising by over 20% compared to regular days and expected to increase by more than 30% in the final days of the holiday. Meanwhile, frontline staff have had their leave cancelled to ensure full service.

Hong noted that while the IAM has set up designated collection points across various districts, many residents continue to discard bulky furniture in back alleys, especially near older buildings in the southern district.

Additionally, due to increased incense burning and paper offerings during worship activities, small fires have occasionally been triggered by improperly extinguished embers in waste collection rooms and compactors.

Reports of such incidents have averaged around five per day recently, marking the highest frequency in recent years. Ricaela Diputado