The government announced last month that the implementation of the garbage disposal fee program, originally scheduled for August 1st, would be postponed, but no new implementation date was provided. The Director of the Environmental Protection Department, Shea Chin-wan, revealed on a television program on the 2nd that the authorities plan to extend the operating hours of the “Green at Home” program by 3 hours starting from the summer vacation. They are also studying the possibility of converting recycling points into supermarket vouchers, expected to be introduced within the year. It is anticipated that these measures will increase the recycling rate by 3 percentage points to approximately 35%.
According to Shea Chin-wan, on a news program, the government has not abandoned the principle of “polluters pay”. Many studies have found that when citizens have to pay for their polluting behavior, it helps to reduce pollution. Shea believes that citizens have recently shown increased attention, participation, and support for recycling. In the absence of a final decision on the garbage disposal fee issue, the government plans to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen recycling facilities in the next year, including increasing food waste recycling points and extending the operating hours of “Green at Home”. The goal is to extend operating hours by 3 hours starting in July or August, depending on the recycling habits of residents in each district, and discussions will be held with the operators on whether to open earlier or close later.
Regarding recycling points, Shea Chin-wan previewed that they can be exchanged for shopping vouchers, with the government bearing the cost. Shea explained that currently, points can be used to exchange for cooking oil, instant noodles, or towels at gift machines, but the government has received feedback that the variety is not sufficient. In addition, the government needs to rent gift machines and incur costs for maintenance and operation. By transferring these costs, citizens may receive greater tangible benefits.
Shea stated that the authorities are considering whether to cooperate with supermarkets or adopt other methods. The cost of enhancing these facilities is still being calculated, but he believes it is worthwhile as it can increase the recycling rate. He pointed out that the garbage recycling rate reached 32% in 2022 and hopes that after the government introduces measures, it can increase to around 35% in the short term; the long-term waste reduction goal is to increase the recycling rate to 45% by 2035.
When asked if a significant increase in recycling volume means recyclables have an “outlet,” Shea Chin-wan responded with a “yes.” He emphasized that the most important thing is to first classify the items for recycling, and in the future, they can expand cooperation with the Greater Bay Area to transport recyclables there for recycling and regeneration. However, Shea stressed that it does not mean transferring garbage for local incineration.
Shea Chin-wan pointed out that after metals, such as cans, or other metals are classified, they can already be used as raw materials. Plastics need some additional processing after classification, such as being made into “plastic pellets” or sliced. He also mentioned that the current lower-end processing should move towards high-tech processing to increase the added value of the products.
Regarding food waste recycling, Shea Chin-wan mentioned that Hong Kong currently has two food waste plants that can convert food waste into energy, indicating that there is no need to build new food waste plants. Even if the amount of food waste for recycling increases, the future newly built sewage treatment plants can also handle food waste.