Hong Kong’s waste charge will reduce our rubbish levels, never mind the naysayers
Edwin Lau believes the incoming waste charge will encourage residents and businesses to find ways to recycle and reuse – and offers some practical tips on how to do it
The proposal, which will affect all households and businesses, has met with mixed opinions. Most critics believe Hong Kong people will dump their garbage illegally to avoid the waste charge, creating other problems. Some also stressed the difficulty in enforcing such a law.
Minister behind Hong Kong’s waste-charging scheme admits rules will be hard to enforce
Certainly, enforcement will be no easy task. But I believe most people will not risk the non-compliance penalty of HK$1,500 when the daily garbage fee for a household of three is only around HK$1.10 to HK$1.70.
In fact, the waste charge is more likely to encourage households and businesses to develop creative and practical means for slashing our waste generation. To echo the government slogan, “Dump Less, Save More”.
Financial incentives usually bring about behavioural change more quickly than education. This is demonstrated by the introduction of the plastic bag levy in 2009; even a small charge of 50 cents per bag has been enough to swiftly persuade Hongkongers to bring their own shopping bags.
Hong Kong grocer fined HK$5,000 for violating plastic bag levy
Hong Kong people like to show others that if we set ourselves a goal, we will strive to achieve it, despite the difficulties. On the matter of waste management, however, our neighbouring cities such as Taipei and Seoul are already ahead of us, having reduced their waste disposal by over 30 per cent with similar legislation.