Following the conclusion of a "Collection & Recycling Services of Plastic Recyclable Materials" pilot scheme yesterday, the collection of waste plastics has been taken over by GREEN@COMMUNITY operators. Door-to-door collection of waste plastics at housing estates by such operators has also been extended across Hong Kong.

After conducting site inspections across various districts yesterday and today, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that plastic recycling by residents, and collections at housing estates, are well in order, with GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling stations also operating smoothly.

The department said it did not receive any complaints from housing estates regarding the collection of waste plastics. Moreover, there were no cases of waste plastics not being collected or left unattended.

The EPD explained that GREEN@COMMUNITY operators may now pass collected plastics to up to 10 EPD-approved recyclers for processing. This is up from three designated recyclers under the pilot scheme. Moreover, the department aims to gradually qualify more downstream recyclers, thereby opening up market competition in order to reduce the cost of collection and recycling.

Meanwhile, GREEN@COMMUNITY operators will continue to liaise with housing estates to ensure more flexible collection services for plastics and other recyclables, with a view to enhancing cost effectiveness.

The EPD said it will strengthen collaboration with GREEN@COMMUNITY operators, downstream recyclers and housing estates, aiming to ensure that recycling work goes on as usual.

More spot-checks will be carried out to make sure that all collected waste plastics are properly processed, it added.