Rubbish disposal fee likely to be $1 a bag

(The Standard 21 Feb 2014) Households are likely bound to pay up to HK$1 per bag to dispose of rubbish in 2016.

The waste charge scheme - likely to be 50 HK cents to HK$1 per bag - could be implemented two years from now, said Council for Sustainable Development chairman Bernard Charnwut Chan yesterday.

Although the charges have not been finalized, Chan also said the business community will be charged according to the weight of garbage.

No exemptions will be granted as the policy objective is to encourage everybody to produce less waste.

However, consideration could be given to compensating residents living near landfills or incinerators, Chan said.

The council will submit its report in the third quarter this year and a bill is expected to be tabled to the Legislative Council next year.

 "For households, they would need to purchase pre-paid rubbish bags for dumping waste," said Chan.

 "Now we do not yet know the level of the charge to be imposed. But I think that it would not exceed HK$1 and it may range from 50 HK cents to HK$1.

"Chan said the charges should not be set too high.

He also said it is necessary for Hong Kong to build incinerators to deal with waste. All three measures - landfill, incinerators, and waste recycling - will be needed. "If not, Hong Kong will be surrounded by rubbish," Chan said.

People living near incinerators could be compensated, he said, citing examples in other countries where residents are allowed to use community facilities free of charge.

Chan's council earlier launched a four-month public consultation.

There was general support for waste charges of less than HK$30 a month for a three-member household, he said.

 Charges will be tested in selected buildings before the territory-wide application.

Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing said earlier the government plans to launch a pilot scheme in private residential buildings and public housing to implement waste charges in the first half of this year.   

Eddie Luk