Hong Kong to issue certificates to recognise private residential building recycling efforts, but green groups question measure’s effectiveness
- ‘Waste Reduction and Recycling Charter’ requires participating residential premises to maintain recycling facilities and hire reliable recyclers
- Green groups have questioned the measure’s effectiveness amid the shelving of the controversial waste-charging scheme
Hong Kong’s environmental authorities will issue certificates to recognise the recycling efforts of private residential buildings participating in a charter scheme, but green groups have questioned the measure’s effectiveness.
The Environmental Protection Department on Monday launched the “Waste Reduction and Recycling Charter”, a week after the government said it was shelving the waste-charging scheme amid compliance rates of as low as 20 per cent during a trial run.
The charter requires participating private properties to maintain recycling facilities and hire reliable recyclers.
“We will continue to expand waste reduction and recycling work to all levels of society,” the department spokesman said.
The department’s outreach team would provide technical support to the property management companies or residents, such as applying for free recycling bins and providing information on service suppliers and promotional materials.
Dr Yau Wing-kwong, chief executive of the Environmental Association green group, said he believed the charter could help motivate private properties to engage in recycling, noting that small estates and individual blocks need more support in having green services laid out for them.
