How to throw away a mop? Saw it in half: cavalier comment on Hong Kong waste-charging scheme sparks outrage and hours later, roll-out is postponed

Confusion over new waste disposal regime needs to be sorted out, observer and lawmakers say

Lee ‘sternly and pragmatically’ tells officials promotion of scheme not ideal, despite it having been in the works for years

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City leader John Lee orders officials to do a better job of educating public on a new solid waste disposal scheme. Photo: May Tse

Published: 7:30am, 20 Jan 2024Updated: 3:42pm, 20 Jan 2024

Hongkongers are expected to put their rubbish neatly in designated bags or put a label on larger items under a planned solid waste charging scheme – but what about awkward items such as a mop handle?

“You can cut it into two halves with a saw to wrap them in the bag,” Theresa Wu King-yan, an assistant director for the Environmental Protection Department in charge of the scheme, told a radio programme this week.

“It does seem a bit too pricey to put a HK$11 [US$1.41] label on a mop stick,” she said.

The scheme also includes HK$11 labels, which should be stuck to larger objects if they do not fit into the government-approved bags, which cost HK$1.10 for every 10 litres of space.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan still enjoys city leader John Lee’s confidence, despite controversy over delays to new solid waste charging scheme, insiders say. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Wu’s advice on Wednesday sparked shock and outrage online, coming a day after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu demanded that authorities come up with “sharper and clearer” publicity strategies for the new waste reduction scheme.

A saw was listed alongside the green designated rubbish bags in a meme circulated on social media as must-haves for Hongkongers in the new pay-as-you-throw era.