Hong Kong’s waste management targets are closer than ever

In 2013, we published the waste blueprint leading towards a reduction in per capita municipal solid waste by 40 per cent by 2022. This is not only a dream. We are taking concrete steps to make our dream come true.

To put things in perspective, the recent increase in per capita municipal solid waste disposal to 1.39kg was largely due to the rise in commercial and industrial waste, which generally correlated with local gross domestic product growth. The per capita domestic waste disposal has been stable at around 0.88kg.

We must face the reality that Hong Kong does not have any strong industrial base to readily absorb most recyclables even when they are properly separated at source, and hence our system is inevitably susceptible to factors including the fluctuating regional demand for recyclables.

While our current 35 per cent recovery rate is lower than that of Taiwan and South Korea, it is comparable to that of some advanced economies such as the United States.

We accord a high priority to reducing food waste, which alone accounts for over 30 per cent of landfill waste. We should not simply shrug off the almost 8 per cent decrease in per capita food waste disposal. Pending development of organic waste treatment facilities, our current food waste recycling capacity is limited. The notable achievement is the direct outcome of an enhanced “food wise” awareness, a fact we should all feel proud of.