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The Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Amendment of Schedules) Notice 2016 (Amendment Notice) was published in the Gazette today (May 6). The Amendment Notice seeks to implement the increase of the public fill charge, the sorting charge and the landfill charge under the Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Cap. 354N).
The landfill charge and the public fill charge are proposed to be increased from $125 per tonne and $27 per tonne to $200 per tonne and $71 per tonne respectively, so as to achieve full cost recovery. The sorting charge is proposed to be increased from $100 per tonne to $175 per tonne, with a view to maintaining the current differential between this charge and the landfill charge in order to encourage the construction trade to use the sorting facilities.
"The existing construction waste disposal charges have not been adjusted since their introduction in 2006. Having regard to the established fees and charges policy and the polluter-pays principle, we propose to increase the construction waste disposal charges after a cost review, with a view to recovering the cost of running the relevant handling facilities, and strengthening the incentive to reduce and recycle construction waste," a Government spokesman said.
Following the gazettal today, the Amendment Notice will be tabled at the Legislative Council (LegCo) for negative vetting on May 11. Subject to scrutiny by the LegCo, the revised charges will come into effect on April 7, 2017.
Ends/Friday, May 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:01
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