Hong Kong diners go through at least 65 million tissues each day – and it makes little difference if they are eating out or at home, survey finds
- Hong Kong residents lack awareness on sustainability, with two-thirds of survey respondents mistakenly thinking paper towels can be recycled
- World Green Organisation says findings of its survey just tip of the iceberg on usage
Hongkongers go through more than 65 million tissues, 30 million sheets of paper towel and 10 million wet wipes every day while dining, all of which end up in landfills and weigh the equivalent of 12 double-decker buses in total, according to a green group.
A survey by the World Green Organisation also found that Hong Kong residents lacked awareness on sustainability, with two-thirds of respondents mistakenly thinking paper towels could be recycled.
Of the 500 locals over the age of 18 interviewed, nearly 58 per cent said they used at least two to four tissues every day when they ate out. In more extreme cases, more than 8 per cent said they used eight to 10 tissues, or about one pocket-sized pack, on average daily.
The survey, carried out over two weeks in August last year, also found that those who dined at home used just as much tissue as they would if they were at a restaurant. Two in five respondents said they threw away two to four tissues when they dined at home.
It was a similar story for wet wipes and paper towels.
