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Green Measures Adopted in 2006
3. During the year, the department has made continuous efforts in cultivating and fostering a personal responsibility among the staff for the care of the environment. Since most of our operation units are office-based, we have endeavored to adopt good office practices aiming at reducing the use of, reusing and recycling of valuable resources.
4. The department has conducted an annual survey on green housekeeping measures so as to ascertain the extent of compliance with green measures with special emphasis on 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' of paper, energy and other valuable resources.
5. The following tables summarize the survey findings for the year -
| Reduce |
| Use of electronic mail |
All offices have been equipped with the Internet email facility. It has become a standard practice to circulate reference documents by email instead of hardcopy. |
| The use of Intranet |
Useful information for internal circulation have been uploaded onto the departmental Intranet Portal for viewing by staff. |
| Use soft copies in draft documents |
Our offices have adopted the practice of using soft copies for drafting documents.. |
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Phase out thermal fax |
Thermal fax machines have been phased out to reduce the need to make a second copy of faxes for filing. Our offices are using plain paper fax machines. |
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Stop using envelopes for unclassified documents |
97 % of our offices have adopted this practice. |
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Double-sided printing |
Our offices have switched to printing on both sides of paper. Newly procured photocopiers are equipped with the double-sided printing feature. |
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Save electricity |
Guidelines on how to save electricity through economic use of lighting, air-conditioning, photocopiers and computer equipment have been issued to all offices.
Our offices have set the room temperature at 25.5˚C in order to save electricity. |
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Publications |
Our offices have been reminded to minimize publications and to put publications in the homepage. |
| Reuse |
| Reuse envelopes & file jackets |
It is a standard practice in our offices to reuse envelopes and file jackets that are in good condition. |
| Use single-sided paper for drafts |
Single-sided paper is used for drafts and printing internal documents. |
| Set up green trays in photocopiers |
Our offices have set up green trays in photocopiers for holding papers used on one side. |
| Regular returns and submissions |
Our offices have been reminded to submit returns in electronic format. With the implementation of departmental Intranet Portal, staff are encouraged to collect and submit on-line returns. |
| Recycle |
| Recycle waste paper |
26,388 kg of waste paper have been collected for recycling. The quantity of waste paper collected has increased by 35% in comparison with the collection figure of 2005. |
| Recycle toners |
It is a standard practice to return used toners of laser printers to suppliers for recycling. A total of 1,902 toners have been collected for recycling. |
| Increase staff awareness |
| Continuous monitoring |
Periodic surveys are carries out to gauge the extent of adoption of green measures by individual offices and to monitor their improvements over time. |
| Use of slogans |
Slogans are used in electronic communication to promote conservation of the environment by using less paper. |
| Departmental guidelines |
Guidelines on green office practices have been issued to all offices. |
| Promotion of green message/practice to Non-governmental Organzations (NGOs) |
| Use of homepage |
Circulars and documents relevant to NGOs are promulgated using the department's homepage. |
| Electronic communication |
The department has promoted the use of electronic communication with NGOs. |
| Regular returns and submissions |
NGOs have been requested to submit returns in electronic format. |
Control of paper consumption
6. The department has stepped up its efforts in building a green and environmentally friendly workplace. Since paper is our major consumption of resources, we have set a target on saving paper consumption by 3% annually. And continuous efforts will be made to reduce consumption of photocopying paper through wider use of electronic communication. The department has significantly reduced paper consumption from 89,856 reams in financial year 2002-03 to 76,873 reams in year 2006.
Green Initiatives in 2007
7. The department will continue to adopt paper saving initiatives and other green management practices
Comments
8. We welcome comments or suggestions. These can be sent to admenq@swd.gov.hk
Social Welfare Department
March 2007
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