Guide for donating mooncakes and recycling boxes during Mid-Autumn Festival 2025 in Hong Kong
The Mid-Autumn Festival, a cherished celebration in Hong Kong, is approaching once again, marking the time for family and friends to gather and celebrate the full moon. This year, the festival starts on October 6.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncakes, rich pastries filled with sweet or savoury fillings, are the stars of the event. Giving mooncakes is a cherished tradition, symbolizing family reunion and appreciation. However, an estimated 3.2 million mooncakes are expected to be wasted this year, a statistic that Feeding Hong Kong, a charity organisation, aims to address.
Feeding Hong Kong, formerly known as the Foodlink Foundation, is on a mission to fight hunger and reduce food waste in the city. To combat this issue during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the organisation hosts an annual food drive campaign called "Mooncake Madness".
The "Mooncake Madness" campaign aims to raise awareness about food waste during the Mid-Autumn Festival and provides a solution by redistributing surplus mooncakes to senior centres, after-school clubs, crisis centres, charity kitchens, refugee centres, and other non-profit programmes. Since its launch in 2018, "Mooncake Madness" has redistributed over 225,000 mooncakes, ensuring they reach those in need rather than being sent to landfills.
A salted duck egg yolk is often found in the middle of mooncakes, symbolizing the full moon. Hotels may play a role in the Mid-Autumn Festival, but specific details about their involvement are not provided.
Feeding Hong Kong's "Mooncake Madness" campaign has been successful in turning surplus mooncakes into social good, demonstrating that even during festive seasons, it's possible to consider the issue of food waste. The campaign not only helps reduce the amount of mooncakes sent to landfills but also contributes to a more sustainable and caring community in Hong Kong.
