HK may revive waste-charging only if other efforts fail

Hong Kong’s suspended waste-charging scheme will be kept as a “last resort” and only revived if the city’s waste reduction efforts reach a bottleneck, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Monday.

His remarks came after the government announced that the controversial waste-charging plan would remain on hold until at least June 2027.

While acknowledging that more than a decade of recycling education had initially produced “minimal” results, Tse credited the current administration with cutting daily waste disposal by about 1,000 tonnes.

He added that public debate over the scheme had nonetheless raised awareness of recycling and waste reduction.

Tse said any future revival of the plan would depend on whether alternative measures fail to meet targets, as well as on public sentiment and the broader economic climate.

Drawing on past experience, he stressed the importance of strategies that protect the environment while supporting economic growth, saying this dual approach would improve efficiency.

In line with the latest Policy Address, Tse also highlighted the government’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and promoting a green transformation across society and industry.

He pointed to the mainland’s rapid advances in green technology, particularly in electric vehicles, and expressed optimism that Hong Kong could play an active role in the field.