HK sees a three-year decline in solid waste disposal

Hong Kong's daily average disposal of municipal solid waste has seen a consistent decline over the past three years, decreasing from around 11,300 tons in 2021 to approximately 10,000 tons last year, representing a 3.4 percent reduction compared to the previous year. 

The Environmental Protection Department said the government's efforts in promoting waste reduction at the source and expanding recycling networks have successfully reversed the trend of increasing waste disposal.

It also emphasized its commitment to further promote waste reduction and recycling initiatives, with expectations for a continued decrease in waste volume.

The department noted that Hong Kong generated approximately 3.85 million tons of solid waste last year, a decrease of around 126,000 tons compared to the previous year.

However, the amount of waste received at landfills only decreased by about 38,000 tons last year, primarily due to an increase in construction waste disposal.

The increase in construction waste offset the overall reduction in waste disposal, which was primarily driven by the decline in municipal solid waste disposal, it said.

Meanwhile, the department said about 90 percent of construction waste generated from various construction projects in Hong Kong is either reused on-site or used as filling material. 

It added that the government is assisting in collecting construction waste from small-scale projects to prevent illegal dumping and mitigate the potential increase in construction waste at landfills.