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The Environment

Waste Reduction

Waste-to-Resources Plan and Food Waste & Yard Waste Plan

The government's 'Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022' maps out the strategy, policies and plans for waste management to tackle the waste problem through (1) policies and legislation to drive behavioural changes to reduce waste at source; (2) targeted citywide waste reduction campaigns to arouse public awareness and encourage community participation; and (3) enhancement of waste-related infrastructure. The aim is to reduce the per capita municipal solid waste disposal rate by 40 per cent to 0.8kg or less by 2022.

'A Food Waste & Yard Waste Plan for Hong Kong 2014-2022' maps out a comprehensive strategy, targets, policies and action plans to manage food waste and yard waste. The government has four strategies to reduce food waste disposal to landfills by 40 per cent by 2022: reduction at source, reuse and donation, recyclable collection, and turning food waste into energy.

The Source Separation of Waste Programme provides waste separation facilities where people live and work. It covers more than 80 per cent of the population.

The Community Recycling Network promotes waste reduction and recycling and provides community-level outlets to collect recyclables of low commercial value. It runs a programme with the District Councils to enhance community participation through district-based education, promotion and waste reduction and recycling activities.

The experience of other cities shows that quantity-based charging can create financial incentives to drive behavioural changes in waste generation, thus reducing the overall amount of unwanted waste. The bureau is preparing to introduce the enabling legislation in the 2016-17 legislative session. As at end-2016, it had approved more than 30 community involvement projects under the Environment and Conservation Fund to try out the implementation of municipal solid waste charging in different types of premises.

In line with the polluter-pays principle, the government continues to introduce Producer Responsibility Schemes to encourage recovery, recycling and waste reduction at source. In March and May 2016, the Legislative Council (LegCo) enacted the enabling legislation for two schemes, on waste electrical and electronic equipment and glass beverage containers. A new treatment and recycling facility being developed to underpin the first scheme is expected to be commissioned by mid-2017.

Efforts are continuing to set up a Community Green Station in each of the 18 districts, whereby the department appoints a non-profit-making organisation via open tender to operate and provide funding for each station. In 2016, tenders to operate the stations in Kwun Tong, Yuen Long and Sham Shui Po were completed and good progress was made in the construction works. These stations are expected to be commissioned progressively from early 2017.

Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign

The Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign seeks to drive behavioural change and encourage the community, from individuals to households to commercial and industrial operators, to avoid and reduce food waste at source.

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