No developed city in Asia and perhaps the world is as wasteful as Hong Kong. With landfills fast approaching breaking point and objections to their expansion and the construction of incinerators, there is only one guaranteed quick way of relieving the strain: charging for waste disposal. Being forced to pay for the amount of garbage we throw away would make us think twice about what we buy and create a much-needed recycling culture. Best of all, it would make us less selfish about our city and the environment.

We each create 1.36kg of trash a day, an astounding amount given Hong Kong's small size and limited waste disposal options. Without action, our three landfills will have reached capacity within six years. The government's proposed solution, unveiled in May, provides the most sensible way forward with a combination of recycling, incineration and landfill expansion, all based on the principle that the polluter pays.

Paying for what is thrown away while giving incentives for avoiding and reducing is a common practice in other cities. Previous Hong kong governments have failed to raise the possibility for fear of angering residents and the result is that a garbage crisis is fast looming. The "not in my backyard" protests that are blocking incinerators and bigger landfills put uncertainties in the way of the blueprint. Implementation of a user-pays scheme therefore becomes not only a necessity, but a matter of urgency.