Hongkongers in trial run of waste-charging scheme criticise one-size-fits-all approach to special bags at estates
- Public housing tenants taking part in limited roll-out of municipal solid waste-charging scheme given 30 of government’s 15-litre rubbish bags per household
- Some larger households say bags are too small, while others criticise lack of explanation about how to dispose of larger items
Residents were left confused, sceptical and frustrated on Monday as Hong Kong launched a trial run of a waste-charging scheme, an ambitious effort more than two decades in the making intended to revolutionise how the city disposes of rubbish as landfills run out of space.
After pushing back the scheme from December to August at the instruction of city leader John Lee Ka-chiu, the government has turned its focus on the trial run to identify weak spots in how residents will deal with waste charging.
Fourteen locations are involved in the soft launch, including one government building, two public housing estates, three private residential complexes, two care homes and two shopping centres.
But environmental advocates have said the low stakes hampering the trial run, where residents face no consequences if they fail to comply, will leave the government with not enough useful information about the scheme going forward.
The Environmental Protection Department said authorities would record data, including the garbage collection process and operational arrangements, to understand problems that might occur as the pay-as-you-throw scheme came into force.
“The report on the pilot scheme, including the relevant data and opinions collected, will be presented to the Legislative Council between May and June 2024,” a spokesman said, adding the department had helped to address issues raised by residents and merchants, including unsuitable bag sizes.