Search

Collection, as the first stage of the recycling process, and pre-processing to increase waste stream purity constitute key operations for achieving high recycling rates and a closed loop in the circular economy. For wastepaper recycling in Hong Kong, it is the semi-formal-informal recycling (SFIR) sector that plays a central role in both stages. This study analyses the so far little explored SFIR stakeholder network in Hong Kong and sheds light on value chains, recovered waste paper quantities and the impact of policies on the sector. The findings show that SFIR stakeholders reclaim 55.6 t/recycling station/month of wastepaper and thereby achieve about a 5.7 times higher reclaim rate than the formal-private recycling system. Critical to this achievement is the SFIR transaction network, which enables its stakeholders to develop a value chain and thereby generate an added value of around 1900 HKD (243.9 USD/t) for wastepaper. Given limited circular structures in Hong Kong, financial subsidies are critical to sustain the SFIR's operations over the short-term. However, over the long-term legalization and integration of its stakeholders are necessary to ensure an economically and socially sustainable wastepaper recovery system in Hong Kong. [Display omitted] • Qualitative & quantitative analysis of the semi-formal-informal recycling (SFIR) sector. • The SFIR's wastepaper value chain achieves a cumulative added value of 1900 HKD/t. • The SFIR recovered 5.7 times higher capacities than the formal system in 2021. • Financial support can enhance the SFIR sector's recovery capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, promoting regional synergistic development has become the shared objective in city-regions during the new stages of development. This paper aims to uncover the dynamics of synergistic development in urban agglomerations by constructing an index measurement system based on four dimensions: industrial synergy, innovation synergy, infrastructure synergy, and institutional synergy. By comprehensively employing theories and methods such as "space of flow" big data analysis, network analysis, and interlocking network models, this study examines patterns and capacities of synergistic development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The main instances of industrial cooperation between cities are observed in Hong Kong-Shenzhen and Guangzhou-Shenzhen; capital flows primarily concentrate in Guangzhou-Shenzhen and Hong Kong-Shenzhen. Research paper and patent collaborations between cities are predominantly concentrated in Hong Kong-Shenzhen; joint laboratories are mainly established in Hong Kong-Macao and Hong Kong-Guangzhou; inter-city co-construction of higher education institutions is mainly focused on Guangzhou-Foshan and Shenzhen-Hong Kong. Infrastructure synergistic development performs best in Guangzhou-Shenzhen, Guangzhou-Foshan, and Shenzhen-Dongguan. Cross-border collaboration benefits from institutional advantages held by Hong Kong and Macao. Urban interactions with outstanding performance include Guangzhou-Shenzhen, Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Guangzhou-Foshan, Shenzhen-Dongguan. Additionally, increasing interaction trends can be observed between Guangzhou-Dongguan as well as Shenzhen-Zhuhai/Shenzen-Foshan partnerships. Understanding the typical characteristics and potential trends of synergetic development within the GBA holds significant practical value for establishing a first-class bay area along with a world-class urban agglomeration. • Concept and connotation of synergistic development in urban agglomeration area was examined. • Indicators and methods for evaluation of synergistic development in the GBA were conducted. • Patterns and capacities of synergistic development at urban scale in the GBA were explained. • Urban interaction with highest synergistic development level is Guangzhou-Shenzhen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiative cooling coating technology is gaining increasing attention in the context of mitigating urban heat island and tackling global climate change. This paper is concerned with the development of an inorganic geopolymer-based radiative cooling coating using red mud, incorporating varying sizes of TiO 2 and hollow glass beads. The developed colored coating demonstrates its radiative cooling capability in reducing the surface temperature by harnessing the potential of red mud. The physico-chemical properties, surface morphology, and element distribution of the coating were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TG-DAT, SEM and EDS. The coating exhibited lower UV (0.0844) and visible reflectance (0.5275) but high NIR reflectance (0.7536), as well as high infrared emissivity of 0.9455, enabling a red color with a CIE value of L* = 74.56, a* = 9.55, and b* = 11.98, and a maximum temperature reduction of 7.3 °C under the climate of Hong Kong. Additionally, the skid resistance, abrasive resistance and adhesion strength of the proposed coating could meet the requirements of standards, indicating a great potential for footway applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]