Hong Kong’s environment minister vows city will no longer need landfills by 2035, but green groups say little hope of meeting target
- Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing sets out goals in updated waste management blueprint
- Green groups question target and question plans to build second incinerator when first one is not finished
Hong Kong will not be sending rubbish to landfills by 2035, the environment minister pledged on Monday, but green groups questioned the feasibility of the goal.
Speaking at the release of the updated Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing also confirmed earlier reports of a proposal to build a second waste incinerator, but said details would be announced later.
“This blueprint will show all sectors of Hong Kong and legislators the different policies we need if we want to follow global trends and strengthen our waste reduction policies,” Wong said.
“We have looked at the past blueprint and the progress from there, as well as how the global situation is affecting waste reduction efforts in Hong Kong,” he added.
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Wong said new targets set out in the 2035 blueprint would see the per capita waste disposal rate reduced by 40 to 45 per cent, while the recycling rate would be increased to 55 per cent in the “medium-term”, but he did not reveal an exact year. The reduction would be based on the disposal rates in 2020, which were yet to be released, he said.
