Hong Kong shelves waste-charging scheme, doubles down on Green@Community recycling network
SCMP · 3 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong will strengthen its community recycling network with 24-hour automated collection points after scrapping the waste-charging scheme due to strong public backlash. Environment Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan (謝展寰) announced on Saturday that the government will instead double down on the Green@Community initiative, which already covers all 18 districts and has more than 800 public collection points. The announcement came as the government unveiled its first five-year plan with binding environmental targets including halving carbon emissions by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Key Points
- Hong Kong decided to shelve the twice-delayed waste-charging scheme in 2024 after encountering strong public opposition, despite it being considered a key method to achieve carbon neutrality
- The Green@Community (綠在區區) programme already has 120 million registered users on its mobile app, and the government plans to introduce 24-hour automated smart recycling bins to improve convenience
- Under the expanded Green@Community coverage, Hong Kong's waste volume has already decreased by about 1,000 tonnes over the past three to four years
- The programme's operating expenditure reached 480 million Hong Kong dollars in 2025/26, up significantly from 331 million Hong Kong dollars in the previous fiscal year
- The government aims to process 9,000 tonnes of waste through two waste-to-energy facilities by 2035, while also targeting to halve carbon emissions by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
Why It Matters
The policy reversal signals a significant shift in Hong Kong's waste management strategy, moving from punitive measures to incentivised recycling. With garbage being the city's third most significant source of emissions, the success of this expanded recycling network will be crucial to Hong Kong's ability to meet its binding carbon neutrality commitment by 2050 .
The policy reversal signals a significant shift in Hong Kong's waste management strategy, moving from punitive measures to incentivised recycling. With garbage being the city's third most significant source of emissions, the success of this expanded recycling network will be crucial to Hong Kong's ability to meet its binding carbon neutrality commitment by 2050 .