A scheme to boost the recovery of used computer and electrical equipment for recycling in rural areas will be launched soon, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau says.

He told lawmakers today the Environment & Conservation Fund has agreed to support the Green Rural Waste Reduction Scheme. On the Computer Recycling Programme launched in January, he said 630 residential estates and industrial and commercial buildings from 18 districts have signed up for the scheme.

About 10,800 used computers products had been collected by the end of May, including 4,600 main units, 2,600 monitors, and 3,600 printers and scanners. About 250 reusable items of better quality were given to a charity to pass on to the needy and 70% of the non-reusable computer products dismantled for recycling.

Mr Yau said over the past three years about 80% of waste electrical and electronic equipment generated would be recovered, while landfill disposal of such products accounted for only up to 0.4% of the total municipal solid waste disposed of at landfills. 

Noting lawmakers have completed its scrutiny of the Product Eco-responsibility Bill, Mr Yau hopes the it will be passed in the current legislative session.