There was something missing from the eighth 2013 ECO Expo Asia held at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong from 28 October to 31 October, 2013 – was it the serious takers of the goods on offer?
In this age of the renewables, the much touted energy saving and recycling efforts to stave off the anthropological effects at least as our Earth continues in its usual changes, plus, the spoken of subventions by governments to implement the measures necessary, still, where were the real buyers at this very nicely arranged exhibition?
On the smaller scale there were technologies and machines that would perform very well dealing with electronic waste, plastic waste, food waste and so on. A whole swathe of Hong Kong companies were there, besides their mainland China counterparts. From overseas, firms from as near as Malaysia and as far away as Europe and the USA. Truly an international meet up.
One of Malaysia’s contributions was from EcoPal Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., a pallet made entirely of recycled paper. “No wood at all, and no plastic – and they come in grades, say one ton to 3 tons carrying capacity,” says Ka Kok Boon, Production & Technology Manager. “Typically, one pallet is eleven kilo so one person can carry a pallet. They are humidity resistant so no need to fumigate – a requirement with imported woods – they are easily assembled and simply clipped together with staples.” The presumed buyers are transport firms and those in the logistics industry. They have a Hong Kong office.
Then there was Eco-Green Systems Ltd., with its food processing plant that produces compost and-or green tea, a plant nutrient. “We have developed our ECO-Green Food Waste Processor in Hong Kong, with a local research team,” says Ryan Li, Director. “It can digest food waste into organic fertilizer, for agricultural or parks use. Our clients include Hong Kong Government, the bigger housing estates and charitable organizations.”
The technology applies probiotics in its process, which comes from Japan and are upgraded for local use. The company has coined the term Effective Microorganisms (EM) which work best at 50 – 60 degrees Celsius to break down kitchen waste, turning it within 24 to 48 hours into organic matter that can be easily absorbed by plants and also produce more probiotics – so no need to buy inputs after the initial purchase of the plant.
“The unit is made of high quality stainless steel and is suitable for either indoor or outdoor use. Effective Microorganisms can be used as fertilizer or animal feed. The volume of the resulting organic matter is reduced to only 10-20% of the bulk of the original food waste. Nano porous photo-catalytic oxidation air filters are used in our system to remove any unpleasant smell.”
Purchase price is HK$105,000 . Various models for different waste capacities from 5kg – 500kg are available. Machine Size (cm) : 85(L) x 50(W) x 90(H); weight : 150Kg; Waste Capacity : 25Kg; average Power Consumption: 750 W.
“To make a ‘tea’, the product is mixed with water and sugar and agitated with air passing through it for twenty-four hours. We have one such ancillary unit functioning at St Paul’s College where they use the tea in gardening projects,” ended Mr Li.
Electronic waste dealer EcoSage collects hard drives, CDs, mobile phones, computer parts and tapes for secure dismantling and destruction, also does waste audits and waste management planning. Spokesperson Alex Tam says the company does pre-processing of the parts, breaking them down into salvageable categories ready for transhipment overseas. “After breakdown into particular materials we shred the product. Then it is ready for recycling. We have the export licences to do that as it is against international law to send waste outside of the territory it was produced. Also, as we deal with corporations we have to track the waste and submit reports. This ensures all the waste is properly handled. The processing plant is in Kwai Chung and the pick up points are all over the territory with schedules for pick up.”
In the future the company will begin handling washing machines, air cons, and LCDs… “because in 2015 legislation will be introduced in Hong Kong making waste management mandatory and we will be well prepared,” ended Mr Tam.
Another company offered water re-use solutions for simple rinsing and other non-drinking water end uses is Park Rich Environmental Engineering Co. Ltd., invested by Hong Kong Park Rich Engineering Co. Ltd and established in 1999. This company mostly deals with engineering, manufacture, installation and commissioning of industrial pure water and waste water treatment and recycling, plus the maintenance of these systems.
“In the final process we use membranes whereas other firms use reverse osmosis but our technology has advantages,” says Raymond Wong, the engineer. “However, there is a need for pre-treatment before the water to be cleaned enters the unit, the bigger solids, the suspended particles, heavy metals. Sand is used for filtration, and carbon – charcoal.”
The membrane technology came from the USA, where they use a vacuum to draw the water through the system whereas others use pressure to force the water through… “this membrane technology allows faster throughput. Also, there is a cleaning cycle incorporated so no special downtime. The unit will work over five years up to ten years. The design saves space and running costs as against other systems. One ton of water an hour can be handled and for more throughput the answer is to increase the number of units employed, added Mr Wong.
PowerZ Enterprises Ltd have a range of services, from converting solid waste rubber, tires, plastics and wood into renewable materials and renewable energy, also thermal conversion systems, solid waste recycling technology and equipment. They chose to highlight their waste glass solution which they state is a collection and processing system suitable for restaurants, hotels, bars and so on.
W. C. Lo, Manager, says, “You get a five-to-one reduction in bottles and other waste glass that goes into the machine and the product is a powdery material that is ‘sharp free’ glass cullets, with separation of aluminium caps and paper labels. Also the glass vacuum extraction of the product alleviates handling, storage, noise and reduces final costs,” Mr Lo assures.
The cullets can be used in brick and tile making as a percentage of the finished block.
On the lesser scale one firm was seen co-operating with a compost maker by supplying pots and seeds to allow urban greenies to start their own mini-garden. The Food Cycle Club was one such with booth maid Hermia explaining that they supply the seeds etc, “It only takes 10 days for them to grow tall enough to cut; peas are used, and radish seeds.”
Amazing Greens Hydroponics Garden Co Ltd had a booth that displayed hydroponics systems and other units ready to grow own produce in a town environment or as a business.
All the above is very well, plus demonstrations of a Smokeless Incinerator, but nothing about non incineration possibilities for dealing with municipal waste despite so much local attention by green pundits pointing out to government that other methods are current and more advanced than simply wasting waste by burning it.
When attending Hong Kong’s world famous trade fairs there is almost always a certain energy among the booths where serious buyers wheel and deal to get orders at good prices and the sales and marketing people at booths are seen visibly working hard at promoting their wares… not evident at this show.
Why was there no hint of the billions of dollars on offer by governments of Hong Kong and mainland China for renewable energy systems and recycling waste schemes and general environmental engineering ancillary plant and machines across all strata of waste production and increased efficiency of clean energy use?
Maybe next year!
