The environmental group Greeners Action - which has run the "Lai See Reuse and Recycle Program" for the past 14 years - said it was expecting more than eight million used red packets to be collected this year.

Until February 27, citizens can take part in the recycling program at more than 250 collection spots across the city by donating their used red envelopes.

Greeners Action is collaborating with 97 institutions in collecting used red packets, including recycling spots in convenience stores and shopping malls.

"As the epidemic situation in Hong Kong stabilized, more people had in-person celebrations in this year's spring festival compared to the last few years, resulting in an increase in the use of red packets," said Angus Ho Hon-wai, executive director of Greeners Action.

The green group is accepting used red envelopes with no year-specific information on the outside, such as zodiac signs and year number, and with no tape. The group and its collaborated factories will then pick the usable ones to give out to people for next year's Lunar New Year festival.

"In case some people miss the collection deadline, we encourage citizens to participate in the recycling themselves by keeping the empty red packets at home so they can use them next year," Ho said.

The organization distributed more than 1.96 million recycled red packets to members of the public between January 9 and 21 - and 50,000 more packets have been given away than it originally prepared.

It was also the first time the group saw excess demand for recycled red packets.

Ho said: "We have collected over 60 million red packets since the program was launched 14 years ago.

"The result is encouraging as the number of recycled lai see packets given away has exceeded our expectations, signaling an improvement in citizens' recycling awareness."

More than 67 million used red packets have been collected under the recycling program since 2010, saving around 3,400 trees, equivalent to the number in Kowloon Park.

Raymond Wong Wai-man, principal environment protection officer for waste reduction and community recycling, said he hoped citizens would keep environmental protection in mind even during festivals and incorporate such ideas into their daily lives.

The organization's survey in 2014 showed about 320 million red packets have been produced in Hong Kong, equivalent to 16,300 trees being cut down.

It hopes to raise citizens' awareness of waste reduction before the municipal solid waste charging implemented in the city this year.