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The Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Product Container) (Amendment) Bill 2015 was published in the Gazette today (July 3) and will be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) for first and second readings next Wednesday (July 8).
A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said, "This is the second product eco-responsibility bill introduced by the Government in this legislative year aiming at providing the statutory regulatory framework for the implementation of a producer responsibility scheme (PRS) on glass beverage containers and, in future, containers of other products based on the polluter-pays principle."
The Amendment Bill proposes to include product containers in the PRS. At the first stage, the regulated articles would comprise only glass beverage containers. A recycling levy would be payable for the regulated articles that are distributed or consumed in Hong Kong to finance the implementation of the PRS. Manufacturers and importers engaged in the business of distributing regulated articles in Hong Kong would have to be registered as "registered suppliers" and, in accordance with the requirements, pay the recycling levy. Meanwhile, the Amendment Bill also proposes to apply licensing control to the disposal (including storage, treatment, reprocessing and recycling) of prescribed container waste (i.e. waste glass containers). Import and export of container waste would require a permit. The proposal is applicable to waste containers that are used to hold beverages and other products with an aim of strengthening regulation of the disposal operation of regulated container waste.
"We will continue to keep the trades closely engaged. After the Amendment Bill is passed, we will further prescribe provisions regarding the operational details, including a specific level for the recycling levy, by way of subsidiary legislation to be introduced to the LegCo," the EPD spokesman said.
To complement the new PRS, the EPD is expanding the glass container collection network and preparing to hire glass management contractors through open tenders in order to provide effective collection and proper reuse or treatment of glass containers until they are turned into reusable materials. In addition, the EPD is progressively developing Community Green Stations (CGSs) in 18 districts with an aim of strengthening environmental education, including the promotion of the "clean recycling" concept. The CGSs will also provide logistics support to encourage more members of the public to participate in the recycling of glass containers and other recyclable materials so as to enable green living to take root at the community level.
Ends/Friday, July 3, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:06
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