HK$1 glass recycling levy welcomed by most, SCMP.com poll finds

Eight out of 10 South China Morning Post readers polled in an online survey do not mind paying extra for a bottled drink if it helps pay for recycling the glass in Hong Kong.

The Post reported on Tuesday that environmental officials were considering putting a HK$1 levy on bottles of beer, wine and spirits to defray the cost of recycling the empties.

Only 10 per cent polled in the SCMP.com survey rejected the extra surcharge.

In an interview with the Post, a 55-year-old man who enjoyed drinking beer with friends expressed support for the scheme, even if it would make a round of drinks more expensive.

"It's always a good thing to support environmental protection. I won't drink less even if I have to pay more," he said.

Han Li-ching, 79, who seldom drinks beer or wine, praised the recycling scheme and did not agree that the government should bear the cost.

"Why should taxpayers subsidise drinkers?" he asked.

Recyclers also welcome the idea as it would help pay to process the 70,000 tonnes of glass waste every year.

The food and beverage industry said it would be unfair to single out glass, which accounts for only 3 per cent of total waste.