Govt steps up publicity work of waste charging scheme to encourage 'dump less save more'

With five months to go before the implementation of the charges for disposing municipal solid waste (MSW), the government stepped up publicity work and encouraged citizens to dump less and save more.

There will be two charging modes after the new rules that take effect on April 1. One involves charges for bags and labels, while the other is a "gate fee" based on the weight of the waste collected.

The first applies to most residential, commercial and industrial buildings, village houses, street-level shops, and institutional premises. Residents will be required to purchase and use designated bags that come in nine sizes - with capacities ranging from three to 100 liters and priced between 30 cents and HK$11 - to dispose of their solid waste.

For garbage that cannot be put into the rubbish bag, it must be affixed with a specified label with a fixed price of HK$11 each. 

Designated bags and labels will be available at authorized retail outlets, including supermarkets, convenience stores and online platforms. The government estimated the MSW charge for a family of three to four people would be about HK$30 to HK$50 a month.

Another charging mode involves a "gate fee" applied to waste collected by private waste collectors using refuse collection vehicles without rear compactors, such as landfills and refuse transfer stations.
 
The charging is based on weight and mainly applies to the waste disposed of by commercial and industrial premises, as well as those are either oversized or irregular in shape, such as furniture.

Separately, the outreach team of the Environmental Protection Department has been visiting housing estates, residential buildings and recycling collection points across the city since mid-August to provide information about the new charging rules and also promote waste reduction and recycling.

Kaman Wong Ka-Man, the EPD's assistant environmental protection officer (waste collection and charging), described MSW charging as an effective policy to drive enterprises and the public to adopt eco-friendly practices based on the "polluter pays" principle.