Plastic Free Seas

03/06/2026

Tune in to Brunch on RTHK Radio 3 with Cruzanne Macalligan today at 11.30 to hear what's new and exciting at Plastic Free Seas from our Executive Director, Dana Winograd.

From reducing waste locally at dragon boat races to the global fight against cigarette butt pollution to researching coffee cup usage and grocery store packaging, PFS is keeping very busy this summer, and has lots of ways for you to take action.

Listen in on the RTHK on the go app or click to go to the website.

RTHK website

31/05/2026

Thank you to SCMP for publishing my letter on the unnecessary waste generated at last weekend’s Stanley Dragon Boat Association Warm-up Race.

For an event held on public land, it is reasonable to expect basic sustainability measures—namely sufficient water refill stations and proper handling of recyclables. Unfortunately, neither was provided.

This is not a new issue. Each year, we see the same gaps, and each year they are raised. Without clear requirements or accountability, little changes. So what will it take for organisers to act?

Participating teams can help drive that change:
1. Make water refill stations a condition of participation. If enough teams insist, organisers will have to respond.
2. Ask in advance about recycling arrangements. If none are provided, take responsibility by collecting your own recyclables and taking them away for recycling.
3. Bring a dedicated bag for recyclables so they are clearly separated from general waste. An IKEA bag is ideal.
4. Encourage all team members to bring reusable water bottles, cups, and utensils—especially if food is served.

With Shangri-La sponsoring the upcoming Stanley Dragon Boat Championships in June, there is an opportunity to set a higher standard than we saw last week. Their sustainability commitments include reducing plastic waste and encouraging responsible practices—will this extend to the events they support? In previous years, sponsors have ensured that their funds were spent on water refill stations and recycling.

Public events should not come at the cost of unnecessary environmental harm. The solutions are simple, practical, and long overdue.



綠惜地球 The Green Earth 海岸清潔 Clean Shorelines 環境保護署 Environmental Protection Department Urban Spring 免「廢」暢飲 Drink Without Waste Hong Kong Shark Foundation 香港護鯊會

23/05/2026

Tally so far at the annual Stanley Dragon Boat Warnm Up races

* 1246 plastic beverage bottles
* 9.1kg cans

Lots more to go.

23/05/2026

We are at the Stanley Deagon Boat warm up races again this year collecting plastic bottles and cans for recycling. Find us at the entrance to the Sea School.

Disappointing, no water refill stations. Why are the organisers allowed not to provide water refills?

If you are a team, write to the organisers and the gov't.

18/05/2026

PFS needs your help!

Did you know? Cigarette butts are made from plastic and are one of the most littered items on the planet. They are toxic, both on the land in the ocean!

Together with 大便妹，學環保。 and 在山田海 Here in Nature, we are organising cigarette butt cleanups in support of the annual global No Butts Day action campaign, to raise awareness of this issue. Last year almost one million butts were collected across the globe!

We are looking for people to lead a cigarette butt cleanup in HK at a time and date that you choose between June 29 and July 5, at a location of your choice. We are hosting 2 training sessions on May 29, one in English and one in Cantonese. The cleanups will be small, up to 8 people.

Sign up through the Hands On Hong Kong calendar for a training session, and if you want to participate but prefer not to be a leader, the cleanups will be posted on HonHK's calendar for you to join.

Find out more about your role as a leader on the HandsonHK calendar.

Date of training: May 29
Time: 7.00 - 8.30pm
Location: 16/F Chun Wo Commercial Building, 23-29 Wing Wo St, Sheung Wan

You must be 18+ to be a leader, but any age can join the cleanups (accompanied by an adult if under 15)

Anyone can do their own cleanup, anywhere in the world. Find out more info on the problem at the website in the comments below or send us a message.

Het Peukenmeisje

06/05/2026

Calling all hotels in Hong Kong. This research will help to understand the challenges related to recycling liquid cartons, often called Tetra Paks.

10/04/2026

🌊 Check out this awesome video made by P4 KOLs from Queen Elizabeth School Old Students' Association Primary School! 🎥

They had an amazing Ocean Guardians Week: it started with a talk from us on the problem of plastic pollution; they participated in our hands-on microbead workshop 🧪; they cleaned a beach in Tuen Mun 🏖️; and to finish it off they produced videos about protecting the ocean. 🌎

Now they’re calling on everyone to stop littering 🚯 and switch to reusable products instead of single-use plastic! ♻️



🌊 快來看看由伊利沙伯中學舊生會小學小四 KOLs 製作的精彩影片！🎥

他們有一個海洋守護週: 他們先聆聽了我們無塑海洋講座，參與了工作坊中動手做的微膠珠實驗 🧪，他們在屯門清潔了沙灘 🏖️，並最後製作了有關保護海洋的影片。🌎

他們向大家呼籲：請停止亂拋垃圾 🚯，並以可重用產品代替即棄塑膠用品！♻️

#減少使用 #重用餐具 #海洋守護者 #無塑海洋 #伊利沙伯中學舊生會小學

10/02/2026

What a fantastic talk we had with the Grade 11 students at The International School of Macao last week about the issue of plastic and potential CAS opportuniies.

TIS has an amazing CAS programme which is set up to help guide and support their students through their CAS journey, yet gives them the responsibility to create a project that is meaningful to them while focusing on an authetic need.

3 groups (that we know of) were inspired to look at the problem of plastic for their CAS, and 2 of them are addressing opportunities that they see in their own school!

That is precisely our goal: to empower students to take action in their own lives and the community around them. We look forward to see what all of the students come up with.

09/02/2026

Thank you to the team at Future Green Global for interviewing our co-founder Dana for your Green Bites podcast on why is higher on the waste hierarchy than - although both are important.

There is so much to learn from the guests on the Green Bites podcast. You can find out more about reuse from Muuse, carbon labelling and single-use plastic free catering in HK from Sodexo and Compass, and how what's on your plate could be impacting on slavery from The Mekong Club.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/19tbptxCF2uijY3FQm3Pt5

Future Bites By Future Green · Episode

07/02/2026

Calling all of our friends from around the world. It's not too late to join this great initiative by University of Toronto Trash Team.

This is a two-week home waste audit. The first week is business as usual. Record what you throw out at home, and what you recycle (not including food waste).

The second week, you see what improvements you can make to reduce, and to recycle more. We will be sharing recycling tips throughout the week at the start of the 2nd week to help you on your journey.

Links to sign up and the instructions are below.

Be a part of this citizen science research project which will provide important data to the organisers, but the best part of participating is that it will help you to reduce your waste to landfill!

Helga Vanthournout DB Green Sanday KC Hong Kong Shark Foundation 香港護鯊會 Andrea Richey Green.Hospitality Green Dragons HK 綠惜地球 The Green Earth 綠領行動 Greeners Action Green Queen HKU Sustainability Ditch Disposable HKU Around DB Magazine DB Mothers & Friends Love Recycling Plus 家點匯收 ReThink HK Ocean Recovery Alliance