Harold Yip takes a handful of paper fibres and rubs them in his hand to show how soft they are after impurities are removed.
These fibres were made from waste drinks cartons. Without Harold's work, they would be part of the paper waste that is sent to Hong Kong's landfills every day.
Ever since Harold started Mil Mill, the city's only factory for recycling drinks cartons, this waste can now be made into paper, stationery and even furniture.
"Waste drinks cartons are sent to the landfills if there isn't a local factory to recycle them," Harold says. "A carton recycling mill can set an example for others to understand what recycling is."
Harold's factory in Yuen Long can turn three tonnes of drinks cartons and 10 tonnes of waste paper into 25 tonnes of new paper pulp every day.
Building the mill cost about HK$10 million. But last month, the landlord said it would not renew the factory's lease next year.
"We don't know how they will use this site after Mil Mill is gone, or whether it will just be another piece of empty land facing the sun," says Harold.
A sustainable future
Photo: SCMP
Harold knew that starting a recycling mill for drinks cartons was needed to build a sustainable future for Hong Kong. But now, after only three years, the factory must move or close before July next year.
"We are powerless," Harold says. "But we can only look ahead, and now we're looking for new places and seeing if we can rebuild our recycling factory."
Recycling drinks cartons is difficult. Normal paper recycling factories cannot recycle these cartons, because they have layers of aluminium and plastic.
"Our machines are specially designed to tackle these drinks cartons," Harold explains.
Hector Tsang, chairman of environmental group Green Hope Hong Kong, says: "It's hard for companies like Mil Mill to make money. We should not give up easily on the recycling industry."
Judy Cheung, who represents Hong Kong at the UN Climate Change Conference, says: "The government should protect these recycling companies that struggle to survive."
Workshop for students
Many Hongkongers have written to the government on postcards made with drinks cartons to ask for a safe future for Mil Mill.
On October 8, Green Hope Hong Kong organised a workshop for 30 students to watch the process of turning waste into new products.
"My school has taught us about recycling before, but not as deeply as this," he says.
It has always been Mil Mill's vision to educate the city's youth, and Harold is happy to see an increase in recycling after school visits.
"If recycling can be done more clearly, more citizens will support it," he says. "I have faith in Hong Kong people. I hope citizens can continue to support recycling. Do not give up."
Fun facts
How to recycle drink cartons?
- Remove the plastic straws or caps.
- Cut the corners and flatten the cartons.
- Rinse and dry them.
- Drop them off at a collection point!
Quick questions
- What method did people use to ask the government to help?
- Why can drinks cartons not be recycled by paper recycling factories?
- What products can be made from recycled drinks cartons?
