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Hong Kong environmental issues
Hong KongHealth & Environment

Rubbish sacks which double up as shopping bags to go on sale for Hong Kong waste charging

Supermarkets to stock designated bags which residents will be required to use for garbage disposal, as officials look to clamp down on rubbish generation

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Workers collect garbage at the Luard Road Refuse Collection Point in Wan Chai. Photo: Nora Tam
Shirley Zhao

Rubbish sacks which double up as shopping bags will be introduced for Hong Kong’s waste charging scheme in 2019 and available to buy in supermarkets, the government said on Monday.

The Environmental Protection Department said it would discuss with retailers making the designated bags available at major chains, as officials look for ways to reduce waste in the city.

It said a similar plan was set to go live in Taipei to reduce plastic consumption by preventing citizens buying other bags with which to throw away their rubbish.

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Residential buildings, village houses and street-level shops that use government refuse collection services will be required to buy one of nine types of rubbish bag of varying size. Photo: Handout
Residential buildings, village houses and street-level shops that use government refuse collection services will be required to buy one of nine types of rubbish bag of varying size. Photo: Handout

“We will be learning from Taipei’s experience in introducing the environmentally friendly dual-use bag,” a department spokeswoman said.

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Under the Hong Kong government’s waste charging proposal, from 2019, rubbish producers will be charged per bag.

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