HongKong Land opens first glass recycling facility

The facility at Tomorrow’s CENTRAL converts glass into low-carbon cement.

HongKong Land, with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Gammon Construction, introduced the city’s first glass waste recycling facility at Tomorrow’s CENTRAL, in a bid to meet CENTRAL’s 75% waste reduction goal.

The project, which also aims to divert waste as Hong Kong landfill sites could reach capacity by 2026, converts demolished tempered and laminated glass into partition blocks and low-carbon cement alternatives that can be used by construction and property sectors.

During the project’s pre-construction study, Gammon learned that 50 tonnes of shopfronts, façades, and curtain walls glass slated for demolition do not have viable recycling solutions in Hong Kong.

Tempered and laminated glass used in curtain walls and cladding of the city's high-rise buildings traditionally end up in landfill when demolished.

The commercial-academic project is aligned with LEED and BEAM Plus sustainability standards.

Under Hong Kong Land's 2030 sustainability framework, the firm aims to divert 50% of commercial waste and 60% of construction waste by 2030.