trash whale

“The average amount of plastic disposed of daily totalled 2,331 tonnes in 2021 — similar to the weight of nearly 70 adult humpback whales.” - HKFP

Following April’s partial ban on single-use plastics, businesses in Hong Kong are switching to paper containers and tableware that claims to be biodegradable.

With the fact that Hong Kong’s three remaining landfills expected to be full by 2030, all single-use are bad.

The 8 meters long “Trash Whale” is made up of 2,331 pieces of disposable tableware. Supported by a bamboo structure, with an outer layer consisting of various plastic lunchboxes and lids, the whale is surrounded by paper containers and tableware.

In collaboration with Greenpeace, the installation aimed to draw public attention to the financial and environmental costs behind single-use plastic or other unnecessary packaging. Urging the government and chain companies to establish a reusable tableware lending and return service target and timetable.

“2021 年，每日平均棄掉的即棄塑膠總量為 2,331 噸，相當於 70 條成年座頭鯨的重量。” - HKFP

繼四月開始實施的即棄膠餐具和其他塑膠產品管制後，香港餐飲業開始改用聲稱可生物分解的紙質容器和餐具。

但面對香港三個預計到 2030 年將填滿的垃圾堆填區，轉用非塑膠即棄餐具並無助減廢。

這條8米長的鯨魚裝置由2,331件一次性餐具組成。鯨魚由竹結構支撐，外層由各種塑膠飯盒和蓋組成，再被紙杯和餐具包圍。

該裝置與綠色和平組織合作，旨在引起公眾對一次性塑膠和其他不必要包裝背後的經濟和環境成本的關注。督促政府和連鎖企業制定可重用餐具借還服務目標和時間表。