The Youth Association of People (YAP) regularly organized activities for its members to increase their interest in current affairs and the local community. In December, YAP organized a visit to the recycling center at Mong-Ha community so that members learn the importance of reducing landfill waste through recycling.
The Mong-Ha facility is one of seven community recycling centers in Macau and is located at the Mong-Ha Sports Centre building complex. It has recycling facilities for common materials such as paper, plastic, metal and glass as well as facilities for clothes and electronic and kitchen waste. In addition, it provides a library and a game booth for children to learn the benefits of recycling, as well as an exchange corner for visitors to donate clothes, toys and household goods that are in good condition. The exchange is offered to residents free of charge with the aim to encourage the 3Rs: recycle, reuse and reduce.
The visit began with a guided tour of the facilities, followed by a presentation on how to distinguish different types of recyclable materials. The group also got their hands dirty by learning how to make enzymes using left over fruit peel.
The visit concluded with a group discussion and participants agreed that consumers should do their part but equally so should the manufacturers and retailers in reducing waste and avoid overpackaging, and not simply pass down the entire responsibility to consumers.