How Hong Kong’s already-serious waste problem has got worse during the pandemic
- As use of plastic dining utensils spiked in 2020 due to Covid-19, recycling rates dropped to their lowest levels since 1997
- Given that 7 per cent of Hong Kong’s carbon emissions come from landfills, reducing and recycling waste has to be a priority to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
When the new Legislative Council term begins, conducting a thorough examination of waste management policy should be top of the agenda. The figures in the newly released report, Monitoring on Solid Waste for 2020, are disappointing, to say the least.
The daily amount of municipal solid waste sent to landfills dropped by 2.2 per cent last year compared to 2019, but the overall recycling rate has also dropped – to a new low of 28 per cent. This is the second time since 1997 that the recycling rate has fallen below 30 per cent.
Recycling facilities at private venues usually look better than the public recycling bins. But whether the back end recycling operations are truly reliable is worthy of investigation.
Overall, food waste has been reduced by 2.9 per cent. However, while food waste generated from the commercial and industrial sector has dropped by 27 per cent, waste from the domestic sector has increased by 8.35 per cent. This is a predictable outcome given the restrictions on in-restaurant dining.
Last year, 804 tons of plastic bags were sent to landfills every day, an increase of 4.7 per cent from 2019. Environment Minister Wong Kam-sing told the media in 2019 that his bureau would review the bag levy scheme in 2020. Unfortunately, this was delayed as it became an item under the Public Engagement on Control of Single-use Plastics, which is due to be concluded on December 29.
Today, you won’t find brand names printed on plastic bags distributed by supermarkets. So it is even harder to monitor if chain stores are doing their best to minimise bag usage.
In previous government reports, the amount of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drink bottles being disposed of was shown clearly. But such data can no longer be found, as the 2020 report shows only the overall amount of discarded plastic bottles.
Quarantine no excuse for plastic waste
This change will inevitably ease the pressure on drink producers because the public won’t be able to trace the year-on-year figures.
Here in Hong Kong, I urge businesses to revive the waste-free “use and return” model to slash waste at source.
Edwin Lau Che-feng is executive director of The Green Earth