Expand distribution of Hong Kong food waste collection bins to cover all districts and residential estates, scholar and lawmakers say
- Authorities say additional bins will be installed at all public housing estates this year, while another 100 will be set-up at 30 private housing estates
- Lawmakers and scholar say that many unaware of government-funded scheme and that authorities have means to improve recycling system for residents
Lawmakers and a scholar have urged Hong Kong authorities to expand the distribution of collection bins for food scraps to cover all districts and residential estates, as the government ramps up publicity over a waste-charging scheme postponed amid public confusion.
Legislator Edward Leung Hei on Thursday called for more food waste collection bins to be rolled out after the Environmental Protection Department said the day before that additional ones would be installed at all public housing estates this year.
“I believe most residents living in private housing have not seen food waste recycling bins,” he told a radio programme.
The department said 100 public housing estates would welcome the first batch before February 10, ahead of the waste-charging scheme’s introduction on August 1.
Authorities also aimed to install another 100 bins at 30 private housing estates.
But Leung said the government has the means to speed up the proposal.
“It is not ideal that only 30 private estates will have the bins installed by Lunar New Year in February,” he said. “There should be better recycling facilities to go along with the launch of the waste-charging scheme, otherwise it will only create inconvenience for people.”