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Fiona Sun

Hong Kong’s environmental authorities have notified public housing residents that free rubbish bags handed out under a now-shelved waste-charging scheme will not be used in any future programmes, saying they will improve the plan and seek lawmakers’ opinions on the way forward.
The government spent about HK$74 million (US$9.52 million) to produce 170 million designated bags for the scheme.
In notices put up at public housing estates, the Environmental Protection Department asked residents to use the bags but said there was no need to accumulate them.
“The free designated bags currently being distributed by the Environmental Protection Department will not be used in any future waste reduction programmes,” it said in the notice.
The department also asked the public not to sell the designated bags to avoid breaching the law.
“Any unauthorised person who sells designated bags is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$200,000 [US$25,750],” it said.
In a reply to the Post’s inquiries, the department said the implementation of the waste-charging scheme required the public’s cooperation and the government would continue to expand recycling facilities and study how to improve the scheme.
“The government will continue to monitor and evaluate the overall maturity of society in reducing solid waste and changing garbage disposal habits,” it said.
“The government will report to the Legislative Council’s panel on environmental affairs on the progress of the work and the situation of solid waste reduction in society, and listen to opinions on the next step in the middle of next year.”
The department said that about 100 million designated bags had been distributed to public housing residents and another 1.3 million bags had been handed out to private residences.
About 60 million bags remained in stock, but they were not suitable for general residential use due to their large size, it said, adding they would be given to other government departments, public organisations and public housing estates.
The government shelved the controversial waste-charging scheme in May after opposition from residents as well as sectors such as the catering industry, which would have been hit hard by the policy.
Instead, authorities said they would hand out 20 government-approved garbage bags to all households in public rental flats each month between June and November.


Private residential buildings could also receive the free bags if their property management companies signed a charter promising to provide recycling facilities and properly handle the recyclables.
The government also said earlier it would conduct further studies on how to optimise the programme but stopped short of providing a timetable for any implementation.
Edwin Lau Che-feng, founder and executive director of The Green Earth, said the government had wasted public money on producing the bags.
The government’s intention to promote waste reduction by handing out the bags for free had a limited effect, Lau said.
Lau suggested giving the remaining bags to social services organisations such as elderly care homes where large amounts of waste needed to be disposed.
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun said the government would likely redesign the bags to make them better.
Tien said the waste-charging scheme was a crucial step before residents were required to conduct garbage classification, which he said should be an ultimate goal.
First proposed in 2004, the scheme was passed in the legislature in 2021 and initially expected to take effect at the end of last year.
But the government pushed the plan back to this past April, citing a shortage of waste collectors over the Christmas and Lunar New Year holidays, and then postponed it to August due to the poor readiness of the public before dropping the plan.
Under the scheme, residents would have been required to place their garbage in designated bags available in nine sizes, priced from 30 HK cents to HK$11, while a special label priced at HK$11 is available for large or oddly shaped items.


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Hong Kong won’t use stock of special rubbish bags for any future waste charging

A banner promoting the waste-charging scheme in Chai Wan. The government shelved the controversial waste-charging scheme in May after wide public opposition. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong delays waste charging to August after city leader decides more time needed to explain scheme to public

Workers handle waste at a collection point. The scheme was earlier delayed because of concerns over a staff shortage. Photo: Eugene Lee

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan has said departments would take the lead and start demonstrating how the scheme worked from April. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

How to throw away a mop? Saw it in half: cavalier comment on Hong Kong waste-charging scheme sparks outrage and hours later, roll-out is postponed

City leader John Lee orders officials to do a better job of educating public on a new solid waste disposal scheme. Photo: May Tse

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan still enjoys city leader John Lee’s confidence, despite controversy over delays to new solid waste charging scheme, insiders say. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Designated bags for the new scheme. The official bags cost HK$1.10 for every 10 litres of space. Photo: Sun Yeung

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Public housing residents told free plastic bags will not be used in any future programme, but 60 million remain


Public housing residents told free plastic bags will not be used in any future programme, but 60 million remain.


Recycling and waste reduction

Environment

Hong Kong society