Last year, 11 Hong Kong women from the Tatler community joined forces to fight one of our world’s most pressing issues: single-use plastics. Known collectively as EcoDrive Hong Kong, they've been running outreach and education programmes at Hong Kong schools, private members clubs and local sports teams to reduce their plastic footprint (and that's just the start). In our latest series, get to know these 11 inspirational women who are making Hong Kong a greener place. Up next is Yolanda Choy-Tang, founding partner of Central Weddings, avid hiker and now, eco-warrior:
Why and how did you decide to become one of the founders of EcoDrive?
I enjoy hiking and noticed a lot of plastic bottles and lunch boxes on the road, which become quite irritating because nobody was picking them up. So, I decided to bring a bag along with me on my daily walks to pick it all up.
Unfortunately, after a week, the garbage would be back. Later, my friend Ming invited me to watch A Plastic Ocean and I was so shocked at the global situation about plastics and how it affects everyone that I committed to hosting a screening.
Friends who knew I was passionate about the cause asked if we could start something together and that’s how it all began.
Tell us about your personal background when it comes to environmental issues.
I’ve never been an environmentalist because I didn’t realise what was happening in Hong Kong. For instance, I thought I'd been recycling for years, only to find out that Hong Kong only recycles plastic bottles, newspaper, cardboard, office paper, glass and aluminium.
The waste we produce is shocking; everyone needs to do their part or else the next generation will suffer for our indulgences.
Watch: "Start Small, Start Now" here
Why are you passionate about reducing single-use plastics?
Reduction is the only solution in Hong Kong because there are two issues with recycling. First, nobody will collect plastic unless you pay for the collection and secondly, only plastic bottles are being recovered by the Hong Kong government.
