Hong Kong society has already fostered a culture of waste separation, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said as he plans to report to the Legislative Council mid-year on public opinions about waste charging.
In a radio interview, Tse said the government’s efforts have successfully reversed the 20-year trend of increasing waste disposal.
Per capita daily disposal amount fell from 1.53 kilograms in 2021 to 1.44 kg in 2023, a 6 percent reduction. But he noted that Hong Kong’s current waste volume remains relatively high.
Regarding the suspended waste-charging scheme, Tse said despite concerns from citizens and sectors about the timing of launching the program, it’s crucial to raise awareness about the importance of waste reduction and recycling.
The city’s first waste-to-energy facility I·PARK1 is expected to operate by end-2025 and I·PARK2 had been tendered out last December to eliminate landfill waste by 2035.
If citizens reduce waste and increase recycling, Tse said a third facility won’t be necessary, thus saving social cost.
Tse said this year’s initiatives to promote waste reduction at source will continue, with the number of recycling points increasing to 800 and food waste collection points rising from 800 last December to 1,500.
He added that after the six-month adaptation period for the new “plastic-free” regulation, most businesses have complied and many citizens have changed their habits, with many no longer requiring takeout utensils from chain restaurants.
(Cheng Wong)