Deeper look into hurdles facing waste scheme

Residents in 14 premises piloting the waste-charging scheme say they face various problems, including the free designated rubbish bags being too small and a lack of food-recycling facilities.

Some at Genius Court in Kowloon City said they had to use previously bought bags before the pilot scheme started yesterday and dumped their rubbish before the bags were even full.

Some also complained that their building does not have a food-waste processor and needs to rely on the Environmental Protection Department's food-waste collection truck, which comes at a certain time every day.

"If I miss the truck I have to keep the food waste another day, which is inconvenient," a resident said.

Some residents of a three-nil building on Pei Ho Street in Sham Shui Po criticized unclear government instructions and the small size of the bags.

A woman, Tam, said she did not get the free bags and that the government has yet to send people to explain the scheme.

"They don't even verify the identity of residents before they distribute free bags," Tam said. "The government should at least assign people on-site to distribute bags and explain the policy to residents."

Another resident, Lam, said he supports the scheme but does not know where to buy designated bags, which are too small anyway. He hopes the government will open more recycling stations near the building.

Publicity posters about the scheme can be seen on each floor of another three-nil building at Cheung Sha Wan Road in Sham Shui Po.

A subdivided housing tenant in the building said staff from the Environmental Protection Department visited last week to tell him about the pilot scheme and distribute free bags, but did not tell him how to recycle food waste and the location of nearby recycling facilities.

Assistant director of the Hong Kong Housing Society Yeung Chin-pang said residents reacted positively to the pilot scheme at On Ning House at Moon Lok Dai Ha, a public housing estate the society manages in Tsuen Wan.

Yeung said the society explained the process, distributed government guidelines to cleaners and set up a consultation point in the lobby to answer questions from residents. He believes there should be no big problems in implementation.

Restaurants in the pilot scheme complained about insufficient bags.

One manager, Chan, of a banquet hall in San Po Kong, said monthly costs are expected to rise by HK$6,000 after the citywide implementation set for August 1.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan visited two care homes in Tuen Mun to learn about the impacts of the scheme and people's views.

In response to restaurants' complaint about insufficient bags, Tse said the department has already assigned staff to follow up on the issues.

Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said the government will collect data and opinions and aims to discuss the next step of the city-wide implementation with lawmakers next month or in June.

Lawmaker Lau Kwok-fan said the government should not implement the scheme if trial results are not ideal.

But Greenpeace's Leanne Tam Wing-lam said the government should enhance its publicity and not postpone the scheme.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com