A brand new waste administration scheme that the Hong Kong authorities is designing may cut back the quantity of unrecycled plastics and their antagonistic impacts on the atmosphere however increased rebates are wanted to inspire residents to participate within the initiative for the long run, in response to a survey.
Residence to virtually 7.5 million residents, Hong Kong lags in the case of slicing waste, with the typical particular person discarding 1.4 kilogrammes of waste every day – greater than double that of Asian cities resembling Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei. An estimated 5 million plastic bottles make it into Hong Kong landfills every day, in response to The Inexperienced Earth, a Hong Kong-based environmental organisation that promotes useful resource conservation.
Authorities statistics present that waste plastics account for roughly 20 per cent of the town’s complete municipal stable waste disposal, and fewer than 6 per cent is recycled.
To cut back the quantity of plastic coming into the atmosphere and for plastic waste to be transformed into reusable sources, the Hong Kong authorities is drafting a brand new Producer Duty Scheme (PRS) for the gathering and recycling of plastic beverage containers and beverage cartons.
The newest findings from a survey carried out by Eco-Enterprise and worldwide non-profit Reloop Platform point out assist for the upcoming initiative, with 86.4 per cent of survey respondents backing it, and greater than 66 per cent of them noting that they already recycle their beverage containers most or on a regular basis.
A survey abstract of Hong Kong’s Producer Duty Scheme on plastic beverage containers and plastic cartons. Click on to enlarge. Picture: Eco-Enterprise.
The research, which surveyed primarily younger professionals between the ages of 25 to 34 who’re based mostly in Hong Kong, from October to December 2023, nevertheless additionally discovered that solely 9 per cent of respondents believed {that a} present rebate of HK$0.10 (US$0.013) gives sufficient incentive for individuals to recycle plastic bottles through a reverse merchandising machine.
Greater than half of the respondents (57.6 per cent) assist growing the refund worth to between HK$0.50 to HK$1 (about US$0.065 to US$0.13) – which is a minimum of 5 to 10 occasions the present fee.
The low rebate pales compared to different values present in Europe, as an illustration, with probably the most profitable European schemes legislating a deposit and refund of €0.25 (round US$0.27 or HK$2.15), in response to International Deposit Guide 2022, a world evaluation carried out by non-profit organisation Reloop Platform, on over 50 deposit methods which might be presently in place.
Reloop Platform works with governments, business, and society to speed up the transition to a round financial system.
The research discovered that the success fee of beverage container deposit schemes largely depends upon a deposit paid by shoppers and that the deposit paid by and refunded to shoppers is significant sufficient for them to take part within the scheme.
Many jurisdictions require people to pay on prime of their buy of single-use plastic, glass, or canned drinks. This accretion is then refunded to shoppers after they return their containers to a delegated assortment level.
There are round 60 reverse merchandising machines throughout Hong Kong now, arrange by the town’s Environmental Safety Division (EPD). Hong Kong residents can obtain the HK$0.10 rebate per bottle electronically or donate the proceeds to a charity of their selection. The bottles are then introduced to appropriate recyclers for correct remedy and recycling regionally.
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If the Hong Kong authorities will get it proper and establishes a significant rebate worth for shoppers, it’s going to additionally function an inspiration to different Asian international locations.
Robert Kelman, director, Reloop Platform
Extra purpose to recycle
There are hopes that the brand new scheme will enhance Hong Kong’s recycling charges, that are round 31 per cent, in response to 2021 figures from EPD. Regardless of the recycling fee being a rise from 28 per cent seen in 2020, the quantity continues to be decrease in comparison with the charges seen in different Asian cities resembling Singapore (55 per cent) and Taipei (65 per cent).
Edwin Lau, founder and govt director of The Inexperienced Earth, notes that regardless of growing consciousness amongst Hong Kong residents in regards to the impression of waste on the atmosphere, extra “handy” recycling factors accessible across the metropolis are wanted to encourage people.
“The dearth of accessible public recycling services and the necessity to discover recycling factors or neighborhood recycling stations are discouraging recycling efforts as they aren’t too close to residential areas,” he mentioned, including that the town’s sizzling summer season months are a further deterrent for residents to hold recyclables to the closest recycling level.
Hong Kong’s reverse merchandising machines had been piloted by EPD in two phases in 2021 and 2022, and have been prolonged following optimistic public response. A separate survey carried out by The Inexperienced Earth in 2021, nevertheless, additionally discovered that the HK$0.10 rebate will not be sufficient of an incentive for residents to recycle their plastic bottles, with solely 40 per cent noting so. 70 per cent of these surveyed indicated they might recycle their plastic bottles if the rebate had been raised to HK$1 per bottle.
For the scheme to make a tangible impression on the atmosphere, the town’s authorities ought to genuinely contemplate growing the rebate for plastic containers and cartons, famous Robert Kelman, director at Reloop Platform. “Not solely does the [current proposed rebate value] imply low ranges of environmental outcomes by way of waste discount and recycling charges, it may additionally pose actual business dangers for assortment level operators,” he mentioned.
If the “flow-through” of containers will not be adequate, and operators don’t generate sufficient income, they could shut down, doubtlessly imposing a legal responsibility on taxpayers, he defined.
Clamping down on waste
The PRS on Plastic Beverage Containers and Beverage Cartons is considered one of two key initiatives anticipated to be launched to cut back the quantity of waste generated in Hong Kong. Town’s authorities additionally plans to roll out a municipal stable waste charging coverage on 1 April 2024, which is able to cost residents based mostly on the amount of waste they get rid of.
The scheme will cost HK$0.11 (US$0.019) for every litre of garbage thrown away beginning in April, with residents required to retailer their refuse in designated luggage. A 3-litre bag will price HK$0.30 (US$0.051) and a 100-litre bag will price HK$11 (US$1.41).
This new coverage goals to encourage residents to alter their habits and cut back waste era on the supply, and for individuals to practise correct waste separation and recycling, Lau mentioned.
A step in the appropriate path
There are hopes that each schemes will assist the federal government meet its bottle return goal fee of 40 per cent within the first yr of implementation, and 75 per cent by the fifth yr.
Eco-Enterprise’ survey means that the federal government might must set extra aggressive targets for the upcoming PRS to succeed – round 47 per cent of respondents famous that the town ought to obtain a recycling fee of 75 per cent in simply three years.
The survey respondents indicated {that a} mixture of elevated comfort, stringent rules and extra capability constructing is required to make sure the scheme results in a profitable consequence.
One particular person surveyed famous that there must be extra recycling factors at areas resembling in workplaces, eating places and purchasing centres, whereas one other respondent mentioned the scheme needs to be “expanded to different plastic merchandise”. One prompt that residents needs to be correctly knowledgeable that the scheme is a refund as an alternative of a tax.
Trade watchers level to how beverage container return schemes in different cities have a a lot increased refund fee. For instance, Lau highlighted that Singapore’s scheme, which is able to launch in 2025, will present rebates of S$0.10 ( US$0.075 per plastic bottle or steel can returned – almost six occasions the quantity supplied in Hong Kong’s PRS. Town-state deployed reverse merchandising machines in 2019 and has collected upwards of 16 million beverage containers as of September 2023.
“This method has confirmed efficient in motivating each low-income and high-income people to take part in recycling efforts,” Lau added.
Kelman agreed, noting the necessity for increased rebates to win over residents in the long run. “If the Hong Kong authorities will get it proper and establishes a significant rebate worth for shoppers, it’s going to additionally function an inspiration to different Asian international locations,” he mentioned.
“It would imply beverage producers and retailers can play their function in a world sustainable packaging agenda and shoppers will know their used containers might be processed again into new containers.”
