The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today announced the latest arrangements on the collection and recycling of waste plastics as its pilot scheme on collecting and recycling plastic recyclable materials will conclude on January 18.

It said the relevant plastics recycling services will be taken over by the GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling network of respective districts when the Pilot Scheme on Collection & Recycling Services of Plastic Recyclable Materials concludes. 

Future GREEN@COMMUNITY operators may pass the collected plastics to any EPD-approved recyclers for handling, rather than merely the three designated recyclers under the pilot scheme, allowing for an open competitive market for the recycling industry, reducing the costs of collection and recycling waste plastics.

Under the new arrangement, not only will the plastics collection services for housing estates under the pilot scheme remain unaffected, the GREEN@COMMUNITY operators can also liaise with these housing estates for more flexible collection services for plastics as well as other recyclables.

This will enhance the cost-effectiveness, with an estimated cost reduction of about 24% as compared with the pilot scheme, the department added.

Looking forward, the Government will introduce a licensing scheme through the bill on establishing a common legislative framework for producer responsibility schemes, to regulate plastic recyclers.

The scope of regulation will cover the types of waste plastics to be treated, treatment methods, recycling and disposal quantities, and environmental impacts, to urge the recycling industry to aim for high-quality development as a goal and convert more waste into valuable resources.

The relevant bill will be submitted to the Legislative Council for scrutiny in the first half of this year.