The Government published in the Gazette today (October 13) to appoint April 1, 2024, as the day on which relevant legislative provisions for the implementation of municipal solid waste (MSW) charging shall come into effect, and on which the charges for disposal of construction waste shall be adjusted thereafter.
      
     To facilitate the implementation of MSW charging on April 1, 2024, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology has appointed that day as the day on which the uncommenced provisions of the Waste Disposal (Charging for Municipal Solid Waste) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (the Amendment Ordinance) shall come into effect, which include provisions on relevant offences and their penalties, defences to offences, by virtue of the Waste Disposal (Charging for Municipal Solid Waste) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (Commencement) Notice 2023.
      
     Moreover, the existing construction waste disposal charge at landfills is $200 per tonne. Upon the implementation of MSW charging, the MSW disposed of at landfills, and to be charged by a weight-based gate fee, will be charged at $365 per tonne under the Amendment Ordinance. To prevent any deliberate mixing of MSW and construction waste to avoid paying the charge difference, as well as cost considerations, the Government needs to adjust the charging levels of construction waste disposal from the commencement date of the implementation of MSW charging. To this end, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology has made the Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Amendment of Schedules) Notice 2023. The Notice will take effect from April 1, 2024, with a view to adjusting the charges to be imposed in respect of construction waste accepted for disposal at the prescribed facilities, including the landfill charge, the sorting charge and the public fill charge (see Annex).
      
     The two notices will be laid before the Legislative Council on October 18 for negative vetting.
      
     A spokesperson of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said since the Amendment Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council on August 26, 2021, the department has been actively taking forward relevant preparatory work, including establishing the manufacturing, inventory and distribution system, and the retail network for the supply of designated bags and designated labels; conducting briefings and communicating with different stakeholders; providing specialised trainings and assistance for frontline staff of relevant trades; expanding the community recycling network and improving recycling facilities; strengthening the extensive public education and publicity campaigns on waste reduction and recycling, to enable the Government, various stakeholders and the public to prepare adequately for the implementation of MSW charging. All preparatory work is being implemented as planned.
      
     The spokesman said, "MSW charging sits at the centre of the overall waste reduction strategy of the Government. It encourages the community to reduce waste at source and practise clean recycling by using financial disincentives with a view to reducing the overall waste disposal amount. We call on members of the public to proactively learn about the details of MSW charging, cultivate the habits of waste reduction and recycling, and make good use of the community recycling network facilities. Let's get prepared for the implementation of MSW charging together."
      
     Members of the public are welcome to visit the thematic website (www.mswcharging.gov.hk) for more details on the implementation of MSW charging.

Ends/Friday, October 13, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:40

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