World Green Organization recently surveyed
1,005 people, aged 18 and above, and found that 59.1percent of them are willing
to pay HK$30 a month.
Another 24.6percent are willing to pay HK$50
a month.
Nearly 65percent want households to be
charged by volume (數量), saying it is fair, and that it effectively reduces waste and
encourages recycling.
The group, whose advisory(顧問) members include
Bernard Charnwut Chan, chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development (可持續發展),
suggests the government set the waste charge at a reasonable HK$30.
Nevertheless, it
believes charging by volume is the most effective way to reduce waste.
A four-month
consultation (咨詢) on household waste disposal (家居廢物處理) was launched on Wednesday.
Speaking on an RTHK
program yesterday, Chan admitted the various payment schemes suggested are
controversial (爭論的), and each of the options (選擇) has its pros and cons (利弊). For example, if
fees are charged on the basis of households, special garbage bags will be
needed.
Chan said Hong Kong
may consider adopting (採用) a hybrid approach (混合法) in implementing (政策) a quantity-based waste
charging mechanism (機制).
He said this after
members of the public voiced concern that it is unfair to charge on the basis
of a building, because the amount of waste varies according to families.
Secretary for the
Environment Wong Kam-sing promised that the government will put more resources
into supporting the recycling industry.
"Charging for
waste has been brewing (計劃) for almost a decade. We now think we will no longer be
able to delay [its implementation]."
Winnie
Chong
How much is a reasonable for people to pay a month for handing household waste? A recent survey by World Green Organization shows that 59.1 percent of 1,005 people are willing to pay HK$30 a month while 24.6 percent incline to pay HK$50. It is clean that charging for waste is an effective scheme for the government to launch, which can make the public reduce waste and recycling.
回覆刪除Hong Kong is a small place with a large population. However, some people are lack of the sense of responsibility of source separation of domestic waste and to protect our environment. There is lots of garbage to be disposed of in landfills every day, but those sites will be full. If the public do not change their minds on reducing waste in their daily life, it will be a disaster. On household waste disposal, Hong Kong falls behind other Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. For example, in South Korea 60% of municipal waste is recycled, and 20% of it is still disposed of in landfills and another 20% incinerated.
Charging for waste has been brewing for almost a decade. The government sets the schedule of a four-month consultation on household waste disposal in society. It should seek an opportunity to show concern on handle household waste and to look for ways to successfully implement the policy. In the meantime, people can have a chance to express their views about the waste charge scheme.
The aim of rubbish charge is that the administration hopes the public have a concept of what they should do for saving the Earth, and how to do to prevent from overrun with garbage. It is time for the government educates residents to imitate those Asian countries a little more on Environmental protection, and to support the recycling industry and 2nd hand Furniture. Also, Hongkongers should reflect on the matter of overrun with garbage and to learn how to recycle and reduce waste.
CoCo Chan