Step closer to built-in disposal fees on electrical goods

A long-awaited bill for a "polluter pays" scheme is to be tabled at the Legislative Council this spring. If approved, it will change the way televisions, fridges, washing machines, computer products and air-conditioning units are disposed of in the city.

Undersecretary for the environment Christine Loh Kung-wai told Legco's environmental affairs panel on Monday that a draft bill targeting these five categories of electrical appliances was ready and would be submitted to the council in March. She was hoping it would be made law by the end of the year.

"All work has been completed and it is about time we introduced the bill to the council for scrutiny," said Loh. "We are optimistic in a way."

About 70,000 tonnes of electrical equipment is disposed of in the city each year, 80 per cent of which is exported for reuse, while the rest is dumped in landfills. The government says reliance on exports to manage this waste is not sustainable in the long run because demand for second-hand products overseas will decline over time.

Under the proposed scheme, importers or distributors of the appliances will have to pay a "recycling fee" to help fund disposal of the city's electrical goods. And customers who buy a new television, for example, will be able to request the retailer arrange free removal of the old set.

The scheme allows the extra costs to be recovered "wholly or partly" from various stakeholders along the supply chain, including the consumer.