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Zoe Low

Hong Kong’s environmental activists have been warning of a “dark period” to come as the city continues to send millions of tonnes of waste to landfills with no sign of a reduction.
Now they see a glimmer of hope, as a long-delayed scheme to charge Hongkongers for every bag of trash removed is expected to become law soon.
But they warn that the city is still a long way from the goal of sending no trash to landfills by 2035.
“There are many factors affecting whether we can achieve the government’s 2035 goal,” said Edwin Lau Che-feng, founder and executive director of local environmental group The Green Earth.
“While it is undeniable we cannot make it without charging for waste, we also cannot put all our eggs in this basket.”
He and others believe more can be done to encourage Hongkongers to produce less trash, push retailers to use less packaging, and recycle more.

First proposed nearly two decades ago, the waste-charging scheme will see residents paying HK$1.10 per 10-litre bag of trash removed. The average family is expected to pay about HK$33 to HK$51 per month.
The scheme is expected to cut the city’s waste by 40 per cent by 2022. The amount of waste sent to landfills daily has soared in the past decade, hitting a peak in 2018 when each resident dumped 1.53kg of rubbish per day.
Nearly 70 per cent of Hongkongers back waste-charging scheme, survey finds
This figure declined slightly to 1.47kg in 2019, but Lau said it could go up again as Hongkongers had been using more disposable cutlery during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The waste disposal bill was introduced in the Legislative Council in 2018, but its passage was stalled last year, with lawmakers on either side of the aisle accusing each other of holding up the process.

Lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming, who chairs the bills committee studying the plan, said he hoped to move the bill to its next stage next month.
The Environmental Protection Department said the waste-charging scheme was a cornerstone for promoting waste reduction and hoped it would be passed as soon as possible. It added that it would continue efforts to promote waste reduction and recycling in the meantime.
Paul Zimmerman, chief executive of Designing Hong Kong, said one reason for the delay was that lawmakers anticipated a fallout from voters for backing a scheme which would make them pay to have their garbage removed.
In a survey by local think tank Civic Exchange, almost 70 per cent of more than 1,000 residents polled agreed the scheme should be implemented, with two-thirds acknowledging the proposed fee was reasonable. However, of those who objected to waste charging, 34 per cent cited cost as a factor.

Helga Vanthournout, a solid waste expert and founder of sustainability firm Wealth of Flows Consulting, said it was time for the authorities to bite the bullet and proceed with the scheme.
“But it has to be clearly communicated to people why this is better for the city and the environment and how it actually gives them more control over their expenditure on waste management,” she said.
She estimated Hong Kong would need about five years to adjust to waste charging, but urged authorities to work with retailers to give consumers products with less packaging.
It must also become more convenient for people to recycle, for example by having smaller stations for sorting community-level waste. Otherwise, Vanthournout said, people will continue leaving rubbish on pavements for trash pickers to deal with.
“Waste management is not about morality, it’s about convenience,” she said. “You cannot just create a policy stick through waste charging and not give citizens alternatives.”
Vanthournout also emphasised that while incinerators would continue to have a role in Hong Kong’s waste management, they should not be a convenient way to hide any failure to reduce waste.
Recycling takes another hit as plan for waste paper processing ‘falls through’
Agreeing, Lau hoped the government would not build another incinerator before implementing other measures.
Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing confirmed earlier this year that his bureau was considering building a second incinerator in addition to one already being constructed in Shek Kwu Chau.
With the waste-charging scheme on the way, Vanthournout urged the authorities to help the city’s informal waste sector, comprising mainly elderly trash collectors working for a basic wage, to ensure they would still have work.
She said they were currently operating on a “semi-formal” basis, with building management companies often giving them access to recyclables from residents and space to store waste.
Waste companies should pay them a decent salary, which would also encourage them to sort garbage for recycling properly, she added.
Dirty job, but don’t treat them like trash: Hong Kong’s cleaners aged, overlooked
Meanwhile, Lau also called for action to reduce the use of plastic drink bottles.
A proposed scheme will see drink sellers charged for recycling the containers and consumers getting a cash refund for bringing back used bottles.
Lau urged the government to press on with a plan announced by environment minister Wong three years ago, to install a network of 500 water fountains for people to refill their water bottles.
To raise recycling rates and encourage a change of behaviour, he said residents could be given small financial rewards for bringing their trash to community recycling centres.
“There is no single solution to the waste problem,” he said.


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Conservation

Hong Kong moves towards charging by the bag for garbage removal, amid calls to cut waste, recycle more

Experts warn Hong Kong is still far off from its goal of sending no trash to landfills by 2035. Photo: Winson Wong

Edwin Lau Che-feng, founder of Green Earth conservation group about stands with a background of air conditioners installed outside the residential buildings in Tin Hau, Hong Kong on January 27, 2021. 27JAN21 [FEATURES] SCMP / JONATHAN WONG

A surgical glove - which is not properly stored in a rubbish bag - is seen in a trash bin at a back entrance of the Ma On Shan Sports Centre, a Covid-19 Universal Community Testing Programme venue, on September 2, 2020. The bin, originally closed, was opened by a Post reporter. 02SEP20 SCMP /Jack Lau

Lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming attends the Commercial Radio programme and talks about raising taxi service quality at the Commercial Radio Station in Kowloon Tong. 21JUL18 SCMP / Edmond So

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment


Much delayed bill to introduce waste-charging scheme likely to be passed by Legco this year
Activists say more must be done for city to meet goal of sending no trash to landfills



Much delayed bill to introduce waste-charging scheme likely to be passed by Legco this year.


Hong Kong environmental issues

Environment

5050

Hong Kong moves towards charging by the bag for garbage removal, amid calls to cut waste, recycle more

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Much delayed bill to introduce waste-charging scheme likely to be passed by Legco this year Activists say more must be done for city to meet goal of sending no trash to landfills

Much delayed bill to introduce waste-charging scheme likely to be passed by Legco this year

Activists say more must be done for city to meet goal of sending no trash to landfills