The Hong Kong government will begin charging residents for rubbish disposal in April next year, months later than planned, according to local media reports citing sources.
The waste charging scheme was approved by the legislature in August 2021. Authorities said at the time that 18 months would be needed to allow the government and industries to prepare for the scheme, which was supposed to be implemented at the end of this year.
However, local media reports citing sources said the implementation had been postponed to April 1 next year. The implementation date will be announced next Friday at the Panel on Environmental Affairs in the Legislative Council.
The new scheme will mean that Hongkongers have to purchase bags in which to dispose of their rubbish or be fined HK$1,500, with the intention of encouraging people to throw less away. The bags will come in nine different sizes, ranging from three litres to to 100 litres, with each litre costing HK$0.11. They will be made available for purchase from 4,000 supermarkets, convenience stores, post offices, vending machines across the city, and online.
After the bill was passed in 2021, there were concerns that it would be difficult to be implemented in “three-nil” buildings, or those without owners’ corporations, or residents’ organisations, or have not engaged property management companies.
According to local media reports, the government suggested distributing 20 15-litre bags per month for free to each household in public estates, three-nil buildings and village house for up to six months. Some households will get fewer bags in the later period to encourage waste reduction.
The government will also improve its recycling services, including extending the services of Green@Community to public estates. Green@Community is a recycling network established by the government.
Last year, the Environmental Protection Department failed to select the contractors responsible for producing the designated bags after there were no winning bids for the tender. The department then relaunched the tender in March, and will soon announce results, local media reported.
HKFP has reached out to the Environmental Protection Department for comment.
