The Hong Kong government encourages the public to continue a recycling program of used rechargeable batteries, as the program entering the third year.

Speaking at the program's second anniversary ceremony on Friday, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department Michael Chiu Tak-lun said that with the achievement of meeting the 10 percent recovery target of used rechargeable batteries, he is optimistic to meet a recycling target of 15 percent - 20 percent in 2009.

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Program is a voluntary responsibility scheme, under which producers, importers, retailers and consumers share the responsibility in recovering rechargeable batteries for recycling.

Since the start of the program in 2005, about 40 tons of rechargeable batteries, equivalent to 600,000 pieces, have been collected. A total of 26 tons of rechargeable batteries have already been recovered and shipped to a designated treatment facility in South Korea for recycling, according to the environmental department.

Source: Xinhua