As the policy framework for municipal solid waste management rolls off the presses, Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao warns landfills will be full in six to ten years unless there is a change in people's consumption-led lifestyle.

Dr Liao said it is an opportune time to publish the policy framework, which sets out a 10-year strategy for solid waste management in Hong Kong from 2005 to 2014.

"The message of the policy framework is clear and simple. We must all be responsible for what we consume and what we dispose of. It is clearly not sustainable to keep throwing all of our waste to the landfills," she said. 

"We must take up the responsibility of avoiding, reducing, reusing, recycling and treating waste, and keeping our landfills only for the unavoidable residues after waste treatment." 

Dr Liao added the framework proposes simple, yet effective, economic tools, which would create incentives for all to recycle more and discard less.

Aim: 50% waste recovery by 2014

In 2004, Hong Kong's waste-recovery rate stood at 40%. The target is to reach 45% by 2009 and 50% by 2014, to reduce the amount of waste generated by 1% a year up to 2014 based on the 2003 levels, and to reduce the total waste disposed of at landfills to less than 25% by 2014.

Waste charging, producer-responsibility schemes and landfill-disposal bans underpin the framework, with sustained public education and partnership, and legislative backing for support.

On waste charging, the Government is considering a scheme that would impose charges according to the volume of mixed waste left after reusable and recyclable materials are removed.

Subject to public consultation, a bill on waste charging will be introduced into the Legislative Council in 2007, the bureau said.

The producer-responsibility principle addresses cradle-to-grave environmental problems of consumer products. Overseas experience shows it is effective in encouraging producers to design products that generate less waste and to take on the responsibility of recycling. 

To provide a producer-responsibility schemes' framework, the product eco-responsibility bill will be introduced into the LegCo next year. Product-specific measures will then be introduced through subsidiary legislation, and priority will be given to electrical and electronic equipment, tyres and plastic shopping bags.

The bureau will also expedite the roll-out of the territory-wide source-separation of domestic waste programme to raise the amount of recyclables collected locally. The target is to enlist 80% of the people to take part in the programme by 2010.

The first phase of the EcoPark, which is being developed exclusively for the environmental industry, will be commissioned in late 2006.

The bureau said the producer-responsibility schemes, source-separation programme, together with the EcoPark and other support measures such as short-term tenancy sites and funding for technological development for the local recycling industry, will help jump-start a circular economy.

In the long run, a landfill disposal ban is proposed on certain end-of-life products such as electrical and electronic equipment and tyres.

Such a ban will complement efforts on producer-responsibility schemes so that a stable source of used products and materials can be provided to sustain the recycling industry in the long term.

The document also outlines the Government's three-tier approach to achieve a sustainable waste-management strategy: waste avoidance and minimisation; reuse, recovery and recycling; and bulk reduction and disposal of unavoidable waste.

Although all three elements are interrelated, the first two determine the final volume of waste that must be disposed of subsequently through advanced and efficient technologies, the bureau said.

First and foremost in the strategy are waste avoidance and recovery, while bolder steps have to be taken to improve the already high recovery rate.

As there would inevitably be unavoidable waste, the bureau said alternative waste-treatment methods must be adopted to reduce the volume of waste before final disposal.

Integrated facilities in the pipeline

The Government is planning to develop the integrated waste-management facilities in two phases. It would adopt a multi-technology approach comprising biological treatment, mechanical biological treatment and incineration technologies. 

Dr Liao called on the community to discuss and comment on the initiatives and the milestones proposed in the framework.

"Only with the full support of the community can we turn this policy framework into a reality. We must work together to tackle our waste problem now so that our children will not be burdened with cleaning up the mess we leave behind," she said.

The framework can be downloaded here. Limited numbers of hard copies or CDs can be obtained at the District Offices and the Environmental Protection Department's offices.