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Waste is piled up at a refuse collection point in March 2017. The Hong Kong government has proposed that housing estates, residential buildings and shops using government refuse collection services pay for each bag of waste disposed. Photo: David Wong
CommentLetters

Letters | Why Hong Kong must act on better waste management: for starters, it can ease the housing crisis

  • The government’s municipal solid waste charging scheme has been a long time coming, but is vital to reducing waste volumes
  • If Hong Kong sent less waste to landfills, space could be reallocated to other needs such as housing
Hong Kong environmental issues
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“Better late than never” is the best way to describe the recent announcement of the municipal solid waste charging proposal by Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing (“ Waste fee scheme delayed by a year”, November 1).
The idea of waste charging was first raised in the mid-90s. In 2005, the government formally proposed a waste charging scheme, and “A Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste in Hong Kong (2005 – 2014)” was published.

The public don’t have incentives to reduce waste disposal in the absence of the charging legislation. In 2017, the amount of municipal solid waste disposed in landfills reached 10,730 tonnes, a 3.7 per cent increase over 2016.

But how many people, business leaders or lawmakers, are aware of this looming environmental nightmare? I can tell you – only a tiny minority.

Today, our government struggles to find land for housing. It would do better to make big cuts in waste disposal so that less land is needed for landfills, rather than continuing to make mega-reclamation plans.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has displayed firm support for Mr Wong and the need to press ahead with this policy amid criticisms. Despite another year of delay to the projected effective date of the legislation, I support and welcome it.

Fees for new waste charging scheme set with ‘restraint’, minister says

With public environmental awareness continuing to increase, political parties and lawmakers trying to block the legislation are simply going against their voters’ wishes and undermining the environmental sustainability of Hong Kong.

Wong has promised a basket of measures to help the public reduce waste, which includes spending HK$300 million to HK$400 million next year to support waste recycling and public environmental education. He also pledged to spend at least HK$800 million a year when the legislation is in place, to further help society reduce waste disposal by collecting plastic from residents and schools, and collecting food waste from the commercial sector.

Run-off from Hong Kong’s largest landfill in Nim Wan, Tuen Mun, leaked into a nearby river in August. Photo: SCMP
I suggest that the government also expand the trial of co-digestion of food waste and sewage to all sewage treatment facilities, to also help the domestic sector recycle food waste.

Some critics say the legislation should only take effect when recycling facilities and other measures are fully ready. However, such opponents will never be satisfied, whatever the measures.

Waste reduction: Seoul and Taipei can do it, so why can’t Hong Kong?
Hong Kong ranked 50th among 100 cities worldwide on the “planet” sub-index that deals with the environment of the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Index 2018. If we are to raise Hong Kong’s ranking, we need to greatly improve our waste management, among other environmental aspects.

Edwin Lau Che-feng, executive director, The Green Earth

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