The HKSAR Government has long been advocating a quantity-based waste charging scheme which aims to create financial incentives to drive behavioral changes in waste generation and hence reduce overall waste disposal, following similar practices in countries like South Korea and Taiwan. After years of consultation and debates, the Government is looking forward to implementing the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Charging Scheme as early as in end-2020.
Upon the invitation from the Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium (HKSCC) formed by the representatives from the eight local universities, officials from the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) paid a visit to the HKSCC Task Force on 22 November 2018. They briefed the Task Force members on the latest development of the proposed MSW charging scheme, its implementation details, and other waste reduction related educational, community out-reaching programs and some pilot schemes. They had a very fruitful discussion and exchanged views on different proposed schemes and strategies. More waste reduction related collaborations are expected between the universities and EPD.