We would like to respond to the producer responsibility scheme on plastic beverage containers that the Environmental Protection Department recently proposed. Greenpeace questions if the policy would be effective in driving recycling in Hong Kong, given the extremely low incentive at 10 HK cents and an unproven “rebate” method. We suggest that a deposit, which has been adopted in different countries, should be implemented instead. Looking back on the plastic shopping bag charging scheme, the imposition of a 50 cent levy has not been as effective as expected, with 760 tons of plastic bags a day disposed of at landfills in 2019. Why then would the government consider a rebate of 10 cents enough to change Hongkongers’ habits? A survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong and an environmental group partner from June 2019 to May 2020 showed that 52 per cent of participants of a recycling scheme, who are probably more environmentally conscious, think plastic bottle deposits should be set between 50 cents and HK$1. This implies that the current 10 cent incentive is insignificant even from supporters’ point of view, not to mention the general public who might not be interested in the issue to begin with. We demand a policy that does not solely depend on users taking action voluntarily, but one that creates a sense of responsibility in all users to do their part and recycle plastic by giving them a strong incentive. Instead of a “rebate” system, a “deposit” system would implement the “polluters pay” principle whereby users must bear the cost if they do not recycle the plastic they use. This responsibility-driven system makes recycling less of a bonus than a rebate system. The experience of other countries and regions shows that strong incentives, extensive coverage of return points and thorough public education are crucial to implementing an effective recycling scheme. For Hong Kong green card recycling scheme to succeed, lower the entry barrier It is unfortunate that although the government has invested tremendous resources in recycling over the years, the results are still extremely disappointing. Without grounded planning and the heeding of public opinion, implementing this new scheme will be a complete waste of effort as it is highly expected that the scheme will not be effective. To reduce waste at source must be the top priority; the government should put more effort into encouraging companies to implement a refill system for different products and phase out single-use plastic. At the public level, community support is essential in driving social change; we therefore encourage everyone to start making changes. Tam Wing Lam, campaigner, Greenpeace East Asia