Advisory Council on the Environment

The Buildings Department would amend the existing Building Regulations for the provision of sufficient space for waste separation/recovery activities in new building developments. The amendment bill will be introduced to the Legislative Council in early 2000.

Since late 1997, the two Municipal Councils have provided collection bins for paper, plastics and aluminum at 20 locations in public areas such as bus terminals, streets and outside markets. Another 118 locations in the then Provisional Regional Council area were provided with recycling bins in October 1999.

The then Regional Services Department (RSD) has included recyclable collection services in the waste collection contracts in Tai Po and Shatin Districts since May and November 1998 respectively. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department plan to contract out similar services in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing Districts in May 2000 and March 2001 respectively.

Ultimately all waste producers should pay directly for the costs of collection, treatment and disposal of the waste they produce, but at first we will introduce the landfill charging schemes. If properly applied, these market instruments would encourage waste producers to reduce the amount of waste and make waste recycling financially more attractive.

We target to introduce relevant charging regulation for all waste except household waste in 2000. The charging level and payment options have been developed. Relevant sectors are being consulted on the implementation details.

We aim to provide a more viable operating environment for the recycling industry by making available to waste recyclers suitable land, on a short term basis, and at low cost.

Since 1998, three sites (one in Sheung Shui and two in the former Kai Tak Airport) have been allocated for waste metal and waste paper operators. The quantity of materials currently recycled in these sites amounts up to about 5,200 tonnes of metals and 1,300 tonnes of paper per month. In December 1999, another site in Tai Po was open to public tender for the waste recycling trade and would be leased out in early 2000.

Several other sites have been identified and are being processed. However, successful acquisition of the sites for the recycling trade is a lengthy and difficult process with the majority of sites being rejected either by the District Boards or other relevant bodies. More support from the Lands Department in offering short term tenancy sites will be crucial to assist the local recycling industry. Besides, we will consider other means to secure more long term and relatively cheap land for the recycling industry.

We are examining the current system and practice on materials recovery and recycling in Hong Kong with a view to developing more efficient strategies, including the setting up of suitable materials recovery and recycling facilities if necessary. Private sector participation would also be encouraged.

In February 1999, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) commenced a 15-month consultancy study to formulate a strategic plan for incorporating materials recovery/recycling facilities (MRRF) into our waste management system. The international review of technologies, practices and policies in recycling, development and operation of material recovery facilities as well as a survey of existing recycling industry in Hong Kong have been completed. We are examining the siting requirements and the possibility of developing a recycling park.

We have been encouraging both the public and private sector to buy products with higher recycling contents or with less packaging material through the Waste Reduction Task Force for Government as well as the Wastewi$e Scheme (see 8.8 for details).

A number of products with recycled contents have been introduced into the Government Supplies Department's stores e.g. recycled photocopying paper, toilet paper, paper towel, etc. Environmental specification and identification of new "green" products require careful consideration on market supply and procurement cost. A consultancy is being commissioned to develop green specifications for a list of environmentally sensitive items procured by the government.

EPD is establishing three working groups with relevant sectors to reduce the waste they have generated and to explore the possibility of implementing producer responsibility schemes. In November 1999, a Working Group on Styrofoam Food Containers was set up to develop a testing guideline on degradability and food safety for products replacing plastic foam food or drink containers and plastic bags by early 2000. In the same month, a Working Group on Plastic Bags was formed to discuss ways to reduce the use of plastic bags at supermarkets and convenience stores. Recently, EPD has sought the support of newspaper vendors to stop giving out plastic bags for the purchase of newspapers starting from December 1999.

The Working Group on Beverage Containers will be formed in early 2000. One of the initiatives to be pursued would be the introduction of a deposit and refund system for certain types of beverage containers.

The Wastewi$e Scheme was launched in June 1999 in conjunction with the 1999 Eco-Business Award to promote and commend waste reduction efforts of the participating organisations. By December 1999, more than 25 organisations have applied for the Scheme covering sectors such as construction industry, property management, public utilities, manufacturing industry, restaurants, department store, hotels, aircraft maintenance as well as government departments. We expect to award the first batch of Wastewi$e logos in late 2000.

To increase public awareness of waste reduction and recycling, EPD, in collaboration with the Environmental Campaign Committee, Housing Department, Housing Society and other bodies, has launched a campaign to promote waste separation at source. Recycling bins have been installed in over 250 public and private housing developments by November 1999.

From April to November 1999, EPD has attended about 30 Provisional District Board and their sub-committee meetings, building management seminars and carnivals to introduce the WRFP and call for support of Provisional District Board members on waste reduction issues.

In addition, a working group with representatives from 9 tertiary educational institutions was set up in September 1999 to provide a forum for the academics to share their experience on waste reduction and recycling.

To provide the public with easy access to information about waste reduction and the implementation progress of the WRFP, a website for the WRC (http://www.info.gov.hk/wrc) was launched and the newsletter "Waste as Resources" was published in September 1999.

A major publicity campaign to launch the WRFP was held in late 1998. To maintain the momentum, another campaign including publicity announcements on television emphasizing on community participation in waste reduction and recycling was launched in late December 1999.