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Following is a question by the Hon Audrey Eu and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (February 7):
Question:
One of the main waste management targets for the coming decade, announced by the Environmental Protection Department in 2005, is to gradually increase the recovery rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) from 40% in 2004 to 45% by 2009, and 50% by 2014, or on average one percentage point per year. However, the recovery rate of MSW in 2005 already reached 43%, which was three percentage points higher than that of 2004 and close to the mid-term target for 2009. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the reasons for the substantial increase in the recovery rate of MSW in 2005; and
(b) as the above mid-term target for 2009 will be achieved soon, and the Government has also proposed a series of measures, such as enacting legislation to implement mandatory producer responsibility schemes, examining ways of charging for MSW and expediting the implementation of territory-wide waste recovery programmes, whether the authorities will consider suitably raising their target on the recovery rates of MSW?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Government has always been proactive in enhancing public awareness on and support for waste separation and recovery through publicity and education. The Environmental Protection Department has implemented a territory-wide source separation of domestic waste programme since January 2005, which aims to facilitate residents to separate waste at source by assisting and encouraging property management companies to provide waste separation facilities in their buildings. As at end 2005, over 200 housing estates with nearly one million residents joined the programme. Remarkable results were achieved with an average of over 50% increase in waste recovery rate. Moreover, in light of strong market demand, recyclers were active in procuring various types of source-separated recyclables, and the export value of recyclables amounted to some $4.5 billion in 2005. Greater public participation due to enhanced awareness on the benefits of waste separation and recovery to the environment, together with keen market demand for recyclables, were conducive to raising Hong Kong's municipal solid waste (MSW) recovery rate in 2005.
(b) The waste management targets set out in "A Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (2005-2014)" are based on the recommendations made by the Council for Sustainable Development in 2005 and the "First Sustainable Development Strategy for Hong Kong" subsequently published by the Government. The Government will strive to increase the MSW recovery rate to 45% and 50% by 2009 and 2014 respectively through policy initiatives such as the territory-wide programme on source separation of domestic waste, producer responsibility schemes and MSW charging. These targets have been developed through a stakeholder engagement process and have been proven to be realistic and practicable. The Government will sustain our publicity and education efforts and will monitor the waste reduction trend in the coming years so that consideration can be given to whether it will be necessary to raise the target on MSW recovery.
Ends/Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:26
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