Starting from Aug 1, the government will begin citywide municipal solid waste (MSW) charging, which mandates that all Hong Kong residents and institutions must purchase designated bags for waste disposal, with the aim of altering residents’ garbage disposal habits and reducing solid waste. 

However, without the support of recycling businesses and a sound waste management system, it is scarcely possible to reduce the volume of waste dumped at landfills. Therefore, as the number of trash bags produced increases, the idea that mandating the use of designated bags could reduce waste appears to be a fallacy. The Plastic Shopping Bag Charging Scheme, which has since created a demand for “eco-friendly bags”, is now contradicted by the use of the designated bags. What Hong Kong needs is a government-led waste management ecosystem, encouraging a Hong Kong-based, local recycling industry, which could actually achieve waste reduction at source.

In 2022, 11,128 metric tons of MSW was disposed of every day, that is, 1.51 kilograms per person per day. Every year the amount of waste disposal grows. Without a proper waste recycling ecosystem, Hong Kong will continue to observe a yearly increase in waste. The city can anticipate more trash that will come in green designated bags.

The policy itself reveals some technical issues in its implementation; for example, how to keep a regular check on every household and ensure their use of designated bags? Let’s take a private housing estate with eight units per floor, as an example; how can the use of designated bags be guaranteed, and residents’ compliance assured? Who will be deployed to surveille it? Though the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has announced the launch of a mobile app for residents to file reports of illegal rubbish dumping, which department will take responsibility for investigations and enforcement? 

The current MSW charging scheme could hardly reduce the volume of waste in the absence of a complete waste recycling ecosystem. The Integrated Waste Management Facilities in Shek Kwu Chau, which are currently under construction, are expected to process 3,000 tons of MSW daily. Hong Kong, as noted above, generates a total 11,000 tons of MSW daily, so the incineration system could only handle a part of it.

Taking up 30 percent of MSW, food waste represents a major waste category. Let’s look at another example: In Las Vegas in the United States, pigs being raised for pork are fed with food waste recycled in Las Vegas. Therefore, Las Vegas’s food waste could turn into real economic value through recycling. 

Hong Kong should set goals and indicators for the city’s waste recycling policy. Let’s consider: Can food waste benefit local agriculture? How can the recycling industry collaborate with the food and beverage sector? How can cooking oil from restaurants be recycled? Most importantly, Hong Kong needs a comprehensive waste collection system that can adapt to the respective circumstances of all 18 districts. Food waste from restaurants must be differentiated from domestic food waste. Being a major component of domestic waste, food waste is easy to recycle and process. If the authorities make their point openly regarding the added economic value of food waste, it will encourage the public’s participation in recycling.

The forthcoming waste charging scheme eliminates incentives and puts pressure on the public. With the government aiming to improve governance at district level, district councils should take the initiative to promote the recycling industry in all 18 districts. District councils should identify places in their respective districts where recycling bins for multiple types of waste, including food waste, used oils, waste paper, metal and plastic, could be stationed. Different stations should be set up for various types of waste. As a result, healthy competition could be encouraged among the 18 districts.

Even if the system is not ready for 18 districts, the city can be divided into five major regions, which can work together to develop and promote an effective waste recycling mechanism with indicators. The key performance indicator should manifest the target number in terms of the volume of waste and the number of landfills reduced. More importantly, in the long run, such an ecosystem will spawn economic value.

 As Hong Kong residents produce an average of 11,128 tons of waste per day, let’s assume half of the waste, around 5,500 tons, can be recycled; how much economic value can each ton of waste create? For example, a ton of wastepaper can produce 850 kg of standard paper and that saves 300 kg of wood. The government should conduct more research and make good use of these favorable objective conditions of the green economy.

Finally, never should we forget the indispensable role the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) plays. The FEHD manages all waste collection points. So, what role does it play in waste recycling? Despite the “designated bags” and the “designated labels” established by the EPD, the FEHD is responsible for collecting the trash. How is the division of labor defined between these two departments?

The government needs to provide further clarification. It is equally necessary to provide a concrete roadmap, pinpointing a specific volume of waste that Hong Kong will aim to reduce. The government should also take heed of public opinion and execute its plan progressively and systematically with clear targets.

The author is a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies and artistic director of Zuni Icosahedron.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.