The Council for Sustainable Development today submitted its report on municipal solid waste charging to the Government.
It suggests implementing waste charging in both the domestic sector and the commercial-industrial sector in one go, with the former paying $30 to $40 per month for a three-person household, and the latter paying $400 to $499 per tonne.
The council said the ultimate goal is to implement charging by household using pre-paid designated garbage bags.
A transitional period of up to three years is recommended to allow charging based on the volume of waste disposed of by the building, as residents in some places may need time to reach consensus on implementation details.
In compiling its recommendations, Chairman Bernard Chan said the council has strived to balance views from different sectors of the community and affirms four principles on which the waste charging scheme should be premised.
"It should be legally feasible and able to be enforced effectively without causing unreasonable annoyance to the public; the charge should be directly related to the quantity of waste disposed of; charging mechanisms should be built upon the prevailing effective waste collection and handling systems to ensure environmental hygiene; and, charging should be implemented in both the domestic and commercial-industrial sectors in one go for shared responsibility."
Additional support measures should also be introduced, such as enhancing education and publicity, expediting the construction of organic waste treatment facilities, increasing support for the recycling industry, further extending the Producer Responsibility Schemes; and, stepping up monitoring and law enforcement.
Secretary for the Environment KS Wong welcomed the report, saying the Government will thoroughly consider and follow up on its recommendations.
He said the Environment Bureau has formed an interdepartmental working group to quickly design a framework plan, which he expects to table at the Legislative Council early next year.
Click here for the report.
