In an effort to address the issue of illicit rubbish bags circulating in the city, Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Tse Chin-wan, emphasized that while citizens won’t be violating the law by purchasing these unauthorized bags, they will incur losses as they cannot be used as official ones. Tse urged the public to obtain rubbish bags from designated selling points, assuring that authorities are actively combating the sale of illicit bags.
Acknowledging the limited availability of all nine classes of rubbish bags at every selling point, Tse highlighted that the 10-kg, 15-kg, and 20-kg variants are typically accessible. To address concerns about excessive quantities, Tse noted that although purchasing 40 bags at a time is required, they may not necessarily be exhausted within a single month.
Tse provided a cost estimate for the use of designated rubbish bags, using a family of three as an example. He anticipated that employing 15-kg bags for a month would amount to approximately HK$40 to HK$50, while the 10-kg bags would cost around HK$30.
Regarding property management companies that have raised prices for handling large solid waste, Tse emphasized their responsibility to transparently disclose the charges associated with disposal. The Property Management Services Authority has issued reminders to these companies, urging them to clarify the fees to avoid any confusion among the public.
To facilitate the waste charging scheme, the Environmental Protection Department plans to brief relevant district organizations and care teams, providing them with necessary supplies. Additionally, government buildings will be selected as pilot sites for the scheme, commencing in April. Subsequent data analysis will be conducted to assess its effectiveness, according to Tse.
