The bill is dead? Government shelves waste-charging scheme

Hong Kong will not implement the waste-charging scheme on August 1 as originally planned, with the SAR government to gazette the cancellation of the date when relevant legislative provisions for the implementation of municipal solid waste charging were to come into effect. 

Making the announcement at the Legco on Monday, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, said various surveys had revealed significant concerns among residents about the pay-as-you-throw scheme. 

He said up to 80 percent of citizens are opposed to the implementation of the scheme as scheduled, while studies have shown that most citizens still have significant reservations about paying for their waste. 

Studies also showed that Hong Kong society has yet to build up a recycling culture, with the city’s recycling network offering limited coverage. 

Meanwhile, the top official said the scheme had created a misconception that the government is trying to generate revenue through waste-charging, affecting the scheme’s rollout. 

He also acknowledged that the scheme would increase the workload and pressure on cleaners. 

Cheuk said that as Hong Kong's economic recovery had not lived up to expectations, and the implementation of the scheme could hurt businesses, he agreed with environment chief Tse Chin-wan’s view to postpone the scheme, which was also accepted by chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu. 

“The government remained committed to improving waste management and recycling practices in Hong Kong…with authorities to report back to Legco on its work by the middle of next year,” Cheuk added. 

Separately, Cheuk said public housing tenants will be given 20 designated garbage bags per month starting June for half a year, in a bid to help them get used to the practice of waste reduction at source and clean recycling.

Friends of the Earth Hong Kong said on Monday that they were “extremely disappointed” about the postponement of the waste charging scheme.

“The government must use the time to pilot waste charging in phases, strengthen collection and recycling facilities, regularly review and optimize scheme details, and strive to hasten its full implementation in Hong Kong,” it added.

It reiterated that waste charging is a driver facilitating businesses and the public to practice source reduction and also resource recovery and recycling. It also urged the government to implement the trial run for the scheme in phases and expanding coverage to include government properties, such as office buildings, government schools, civil servant quarters, sports centres, and shopping malls. 

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Dumped