Hong Kong to Achieve Full Local Paper Pulping from Thursday, Recycling Scope Expanded
Crhk · 3 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
The Tuen Mun EcoPark's modern paper pulp production facility, which commenced operations in late July this year, will fully transition Hong Kong's collected waste paper to local pulping from this Thursday, eliminating the need for export . The Environmental Protection Department's Assistant Director Wong Chi-wa said that previously, Hong Kong's collected waste paper had to be shipped overseas for processing, describing it as merely "shipping logistics from left hand to right hand" . Now, converting waste paper into raw materials like pulp locally enables resource recovery within Hong Kong, with exports going to markets in the Mainland and Southeast Asia that have demand, achieving upgrading and waste-to-resource goals .
Key Points
- The modern paper pulp production facility at Tuen Mun EcoPark can process up to 720,000 tonnes of waste paper annually, using advanced technology to mix long and short fibers into uniform pulp
- Starting this Thursday (October 1), locally collected waste paper will achieve full local pulping, with recyclable types expanded from traditional "three papers" (cardboard, newspapers, office paper) to include magazines, paper bags, and packaging boxes
- The facility set a single-day record of 1,608 tonnes of paper collection this month, 4% higher than the daily average last year
- The designated minimum price for frontline collectors is set at HK$0.65 per kilogram; the designated purchase price has been adjusted from HK$1,200 per tonne in July to the current HK$1,295 per tonne
- The New Territories Freight Association Chairman Ng Shui-lun predicts traditional baler factories will see business decline of 10-20 percent as waste paper now goes directly to the EcoPark
Why It Matters
This development marks a significant milestone in Hong Kong's waste management strategy, transforming the city from a mere exporter of recyclable materials to a processor that adds value locally before exporting finished pulp. While traditional recycling businesses face short-term challenges, the expansion of recyclable paper types and the guaranteed minimum prices for collectors aim to strengthen the entire waste paper supply chain and support Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan targets for waste reduction, resource recovery, and harmless treatment .
This development marks a significant milestone in Hong Kong's waste management strategy, transforming the city from a mere exporter of recyclable materials to a processor that adds value locally before exporting finished pulp. While traditional recycling businesses face short-term challenges, the expansion of recyclable paper types and the guaranteed minimum prices for collectors aim to strengthen the entire waste paper supply chain and support Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan targets for waste reduction, resource recovery, and harmless treatment .