Hong Kong government falling behind on environmental promises, green group says
- City is unlikely to meet goal of cutting per capita waste by 40 per cent from 2013 levels by 2022, according to Friends of the Earth
- But some progress is being made in other areas, such as low-emission zones for buses and subsidies for recycling industry
Hong Kong is expected to miss a waste reduction target, putting an even greater strain on landfills, a green group has warned in a report card on the government’s environmental goals over the past five years.
The review by Friends of the Earth (HK) coincided with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday.
Although stronger regulations had been adopted to control air and marine pollution, the city was unlikely to hit its goal of cutting per capita waste by 40 per cent from 2013 levels by 2022, the NGO said.
The consultation for a “polluter pays” scheme for plastic drinks bottles, originally scheduled to happen this year, has also been delayed.
“The plan is to cut the amount of waste per person to 0.8kg [1.76 pounds] by 2022, but the current rate is 1.5kg [3.3 pounds],” said Jeffrey Hung Oi-shing, the research team’s senior manager. “And now it seems that the proposed waste-charging scheme will also be delayed.”
