Recyclers in Hong Kong brace for full impact of temporary ban on wastepaper collection
One-week stoppage planned, but worries grow about long-term solution for tens of thousands of tonnes piling up in city each month
Hong Kong recyclers are bracing for the full impact of a temporary halt in wastepaper collection by local exporters from Friday.
The business association behind the industrial action hoped the pain would be short-term – a stoppage of at least one week is planned – but fallout was already cascading through the supply chain.
“Street collectors are putting up signs saying they are no longer accepting [wastepaper],” said Jacky Lau Yiu-shing, director of the Recycle Materials and Re-production Business General Association.
“For us [exporters] we’ll only be able to handle stock up to the end of this month. We’re not signing any new contracts with collectors for October.”
To deal with the fallout, the Environmental Protection Department was to activate a contingency plan, which includes freeing up sites for storage at the EcoPark and Nim Wan in Tuen Mun as well as 16 public cargo berths.