Hong Kong’s Business Environment Council expects the current administration will not revive the city’s suspended municipal solid waste charging scheme, and has proposed alternative measures including a gate fee for landfills.
At a media briefing on Wednesday, the council said Hong Kong’s per capita waste generation remains among the highest globally, making a charging mechanism necessary to drive waste reduction and recycling.
It urged at least recovering basic disposal costs to create incentives for both businesses and the public to cut waste.
Chief executive Simon Ng said the government appeared unlikely to “push through” the levy during this term, suggesting any relaunch would have to wait until the economy improves after 2027.
Chairman Kevin O’Brien noted corporate sustainability efforts may slow in the meantime, though the overall direction remains unchanged.
Policy and research head Merlin Lao stressed that both landfill and incinerator operations carry costs that have long been covered by public funds, creating a false perception that “throwing away trash is free.”
The MSW charge was put on hold last year, with Environment Secretary Tse Chin-wan pledging to monitor waste habits and report back to lawmakers on July 28.
However, the bureau on Monday denied changing the agenda, saying the levy remains a major policy issue requiring broad consultation and deeper assessment before deciding its next steps, local media reported.
STAFF REPORTER
