‘Remains a mystery’: Hongkongers call for more clarity over waste-charging scheme, ramp up Lunar New Year cleaning ahead of policy

Office clerk Mercy Wong, 28, says holiday cleaning has reached new level this year to reduce costs when waste-charging scheme takes effect

Critics and lawmakers express concerns over enforcement challenges in ‘three-nil’ buildings, say they may become hotspots for illegal disposal

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Mercy Wong, a resident of a “three-nil” building, gets his rubbish ready to take to a recycling station. Photo: Sun Yeung

Published: 4:30pm, 8 Feb 2024Updated: 7:49pm, 8 Feb 2024

Hongkonger Mercy Wong Pak-ho’s flat was filled with clutter ahead of Lunar New Year, with waste paper, drinks cartons and plastic bottles piling up in his 150 sq ft home in To Kwa Wan.

The 28-year-old office clerk had embarked on a massive clean-up to sweep away bad luck as part of a traditional ritual observed on the 28th day of the last lunar month.

But this year, Wong had turned his flat upside down, getting rid of unused appliances to reduce costs when a municipal-level waste-charging scheme took effect in August.

“I have no idea how the scheme will be executed here,” he said. “The government says it will send outreach teams to ‘three-nil’ buildings to explain the plan, but I’ve never seen them, let alone care teams and district councillors.”

Mercy Wong, 28, cleaning up his 150 sq ft flat ahead of Lunar New Year. Photo: Sun Yeung

Under scheme, recently postponed from April to August, residents will be required to buy government-approved plastic bags, available in nine sizes, for 11 HK cents (1.4 US cents) a litre.