The following is issued on behalf of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development:

      The Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development (the Council) announced today (January 31) the below statement on the implementation of the municipal solid waste (MSW) charging scheme in Hong Kong:

     Hong Kong is progressing steadily towards the goal of carbon neutrality through the four deep strategies to reduce carbon emissions, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction. The three existing landfills in Hong Kong are expected to reach their capacity one after another in the coming few years, therefore the work on waste reduction is a matter of great urgency. To move away from over-reliance on landfills for municipal waste disposal, apart from actively developing waste-to-energy facilities and promoting resources circulation, Hong Kong should also provide incentives for businesses and the public to practise waste reduction and recycling through the implementation of MSW charging, and at the same time promote the sustainable development of the recycling industry as well as the creation of green employment opportunities.

     Waste reduction and recycling are the shared responsibilities of every individual. The smooth implementation of MSW charging requires the full support and co-operation from each and every one of us. The Council fully supports the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in taking the next few months to explain the importance and details of MSW charging to all sectors of the community in a more specific manner before the new legislation takes effect on August 1, and in helping the community adapt to the new measures through real-life examples and demonstrations, so as to gradually drive behavioural and cultural changes, and ultimately achieve waste reduction for all.

     We have been supporting MSW charging all along and will actively work with the Government in the areas of youth engagement and sectoral promotion. In parallel, we would like to call on all partners of the Council to continue their staunch support and join hands with us to promote Hong Kong's low-carbon transformation.

Ends/Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Issued at HKT 16:10

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