- Fourteen different premises involved in trial, with government-approved bags issued free, with government to collect information
- Some people, however, have already said they fear the scheme, to launch in August, will not work as hoped
Hsin Kuang Banquet Hall is gearing up to take part in the municipal solid waste charging scheme trial from Monday. Photo: Sam TsangHong Kong will launch a trial run of the long-delayed municipal solid waste charging scheme on Monday at more than a dozen premises, but some members of the public and restaurateurs have said they are still unclear about the rules.
The trial run covers 14 different premises, including public and private housing estates, a government office block, shopping centres, care homes and restaurants, with authorities providing approved garbage bags free of charge. The government will collect information to gauge preparedness for the official start of the scheme in August.
At Lin Tsui Estate in Chai Wan, a single block public housing estate of about 280 households, most flats had already collected 30 government garbage bags of 15 litres each from the building’s reception.
They were also allowed to opt for the regular white garbage bags instead of the green ones provided by the government.
But some people said they were not convinced the scheme was a practical proposition.
“I am not quite sure if the scheme will work here,” Jennifer Tsang, who is in her thirties, said. “If we cook every day, the 15-litre bag is a bit too small – we may need to use an extra bag or take our food waste downstairs for recycling.”
Another resident also in his thirties, who identified himself only by the surname Wong, admitted he was still unclear about the new rules.
“If the government found trash not wrapped in the designated bags, how could they find out who’s responsible for it?” he asked. “I don’t think the scheme will work.”
Wong said the government did not communicate with residents about the trial, except by putting up posters in the building.
“I would not bother with it at all, at least not now,” he added.
Stephen Poon Kin-leung of Creative Enterprise Holdings, the property management company at the estate, told local media they would deploy an extra cleaner for the trial.
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He said the cleaning team would help wrap improperly disposed of rubbish in government-designated bags before the waste was taken away.
Stanley Ho Ngai-kam, a Chai Wan district councillor, said he was concerned about the participation rate in the trial, which does not require all residents to take part.
“The participation rate needs to be high enough for the operational data to be meaningful,” he said.
Ho appealed to the government to put more effort into encouraging the public residents to join the trial and to streamline the procedures with the property management sector.
Hsin Kuang Banquet Hall in San Po Kong, among the four restaurants taking part in the pilot scheme, said it was ready for the trial run, but that it would be an added burden on staff.
“We need to do a lot more given the labour shortage, especially in ensuring the amount of trash will not reach the point where the bags can’t be tied up as required, but our staff are always busy,” manager Odi Chan Fung-yee said.
“We were also told to rinse every glass bottle for recycling, which is also demanding for our staff.”
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The restaurant was given 60 government-designated industrial-sized bags of 240 and 660 litre capacities, which are expected to last for two weeks.
Chan said they expected to use at least five bags every day – three of the 240 litre ones and two of the 660 litre capacity.
That is expected to amount to about HK$200 (US$25) a day after the scheme gets its official launch in August.
Chan added she had concerns about of the polystyrene and cardboard boxes used by food suppliers because they were the bulkiest, and the restaurant was at present looking at ways to have them recycled.
Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, who heads an interdepartmental working group on the scheme, said on Sunday authorities would assess the result of the trial before deciding the next step forward.
“There are a lot of aspects for us to monitor, such as people’s participation, their understanding and acceptance of the scheme, and the amount of garbage and recyclables,” Cheuk said.
The information from the trial will be analysed and the next moves will be decided by June.
The launch for the scheme was first scheduled for April 1, but was delayed to August after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu decided that a postponement was needed to better promote the scheme amid public confusion.