Hong Kong's long-awaited waste-charging scheme is expected to come into force on April 1 next year at the earliest, according to sources.
The scheme was originally set for the second half of this year, but it is understood that the plan was further delayed due to the unsuccessful tendering for a manufacturing contract for the garbage bags to be used under the scheme.
Sources said the new starting date has been set for April 1 next year, followed by a six-month preparation period. Free bags will be handed out to residents in public housing, village houses and three-nil buildings of about 1.05 million units in the initial stage.
The municipal solid waste charging bill was approved by the Legislative Council in August 2021. The bill requires residents to pay for garbage bags.
There are nine bag sizes, from the smallest of three liters to the largest of 100 liters. The charge is 11 cents a liter, meaning the price of a 10-liter bag will be HK$1.1.
It was disclosed at the end of November last year that the tender for designated plastic bags was terminated due to the high bidding price, and it was revealed in April this year that the authorities would do the exercise again and the winning bidder will be announced soon after.
Edwin Lau Che-feng, founder and executive director of The Green Earth, said the postponement is regrettable and urged the government to impose it as soon as possible.
"I am disappointed by the government when they had promised the public to impose it this year but now they have failed to do so," Lau told The Standard yesterday.
He worried that the government would not be able to enforce the law by next April, and he prodded the government to hurry up in announcing the winning bidder and engage in preparation work.
"The government should now seize the time to educate the public to follow the policy, as I don't see any of it now," he added.
