With its landfill capacity running out, Hong Kong has launched a drive to "upcycle" bamboo, which is widely used in construction there.
The Environmental Protection Department and non-profit organisations Green Come True and JupYeah have asked designers to come up with ways of making new things with the light, strong and versatile material.
Forty-nine tonnes of used bamboo were collected and workshops conducted with children, who were challenged to make wind chimes, fences and furniture.
![](https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/x846.2_34.pagespeed.ic_.JDbc167eRs.jpg)
Another bamboo scaffolding configuration in Hong Kong (Mike Peel/www.mikepeel.net)
"Our landfills are nearly at capacity, so I believe it will be good for Hong Kong if we recycle or upcycle more materials," said programme participant, Ho Siu-yu.
Environmental group JupYeah, which is Cantonese for "picking things up", invited local designers to use old bamboo creatively.
Its efforts resulted in large tables for use at a charity book sale, and also clothes hangers and crutches.
Co-founder Ren Wan said: "If we want to solve our environmental problems we need creativity to explore more possibilities."
![](https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/846.3_33.jpg)
It’s got legs: Designers came up with the idea of making tables with bamboo
While the initiative is meant to be fun, there is a serious side.
Last month contractors were fined HK$20,000 for illegally dumping bamboo poles and other waste on a city road.
Top image: Light, strong and versatile, bamboo is the scaffolding method of choice in Hong Kong (Chris 73/Wikimedia Commons)
Further Reading: