Hong Kong government halt on production of solid waste disposal scheme bags sparks calls for introduction to be delayed ‘for at least a year’

The news reignited speculation that the government was paving the way for a further delay to the controversial scheme, which was designed to provide incentives for the public to become more aware of waste disposal volumes by requiring them to buy special bags produced in a variety of sizes.

The Environmental Protection Department confirmed to the Post that suppliers “did not need to produce additional designated bags for the time being” after they built up a stock of bags sufficient for two months.

The department emphasised that the stockpile could meet the needs “before and after implementation” of the scheme, but did not say whether the programme would be further delayed.

“Since the implementation of garbage charging has been postponed to August 1, suppliers do not need to produce additional designated bags for the time being to meet the demand before and after implementation,” the department added.

A one-month trial scheme, scheduled to end in days, is under way to examine problems facing households, cleaning staff and waste collectors at 14 premises.

Government officials have scheduled a meeting with the Legislative Council’s environmental affairs panel to deliver a review of the trial scheme on May 27.

Lawmaker Edward Lau Kwok-fun of the DAB, also the chairman of the Legco environment panel, said that the government should further implement the citywide scheme “at least a year” later and “in phases”.

“Residents in rural areas and public estates have been complaining to us about insufficient recycling facilities,” he said. “Postponing at least a year could buy time for the government to review the whole strategy.

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“And the government should also learn from the recent ban on throwaway plastic tableware, which is being rolled out in phases.

“Would it be possible to charge private enterprises for trash bags first, followed by the public sector and finally households?”

Lau’s call echoed the views of Beijing loyalist heavyweights Henry Tang Ying-yen and Lo Man-tuen, who said the scheme was a “mission impossible”.

Kwok Wai-keung, of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and also an environment panel member, said his party met Tse Chin-wan, the environment secretary, on Friday morning to pass on the views of members of the public who took part in the trial run.

He added Tse did not reveal the government’s stance on the policy in the closed-doors meeting.

But Kwok said Tse had told the trade unionists that environment officials had admitted there were problems with the number of food waste recycling facilities and had pledged to improve.

“Problems won’t go away simply by postponing the scheme,” Kwok said. “None of us can evade the mutual goal of lowering the waste disposal rate.”

Kwok appealed for patience to give the government time to review the effectiveness of the trial run next month.

Government statistics show the disposal rate for municipal solid waste was 1.51kg per person a day in 2022, discounting the population growth factor.

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Food waste accounted for about 30 per cent of the 11,128 tonnes (12,267 tons) of solid landfill produced each day that year.

Plastics, which made up 21 per cent, was the second largest contributor.

But lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui of the New People’s Party said she was worried that the suspension of production of the special bags would create confusion among the public.

“Many residents and management companies have been preparing for this initiative,” she said. “If the government is making a U-turn, officials should promptly explain the reasons to prevent unwarranted speculation.

“But officials should ask themselves if there is a realistic date for Hong Kong to get ready for the scheme.

“Places like Taiwan and South Korea took years to streamline relevant schemes before influencing behavioural change.”

She said more delays would put Hong Kong further behind many other metropolitan areas in meeting environmental targets.

The city government’s aim is to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and cut carbon emissions by half before 2035, compared with the 2005 level.