The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) held the first briefing on municipal solid waste (MSW) charging for the District Services and Community Care Teams at Leighton Hill Community Hall today (February 20). At the briefing, the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, briefed Care Team members on the latest implementation arrangements of MSW charging and the implementation details of the first phase of regulating disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products.
 
     During the briefing, Dr Chui also listened to Care Team members' opinions on the preparatory work on MSW charging and the relevant waste reduction and recycling measures. He said, "The Government hopes to encourage the community to cherish resources and promote waste reduction at source and clean recycling, in order to reduce the overall quantities of MSW being disposed of; and this is the policy intent of MSW charging. It is definitely not our intention to generate additional revenue for the Government and we do not intend to punish the public by implementing MSW charging."
 
     "To successfully implement this policy involving all sectors of Hong Kong, the support at the community level is essential. I appeal to all Care Team members to work with the District Council (DC) members and members of the local community to fully support and assist the EPD in promoting and explaining the policy of MSW charging in their community work, so as to help the general public to get prepared for the implementation of MSW charging," Dr Chui added.
 
     The EPD will hold two more briefings for Care Team members in Kowloon and the New Territories to explain to them the arrangement and implementation details of MSW charging, in order to enable them to explain it to the public. The EPD has also delivered the promotional materials of MSW charging to District Offices for distribution to DC members and Care Team members for their use.

Ends/Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Issued at HKT 13:30

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