Territory-wide waste paper collection and recycling services to commence tomorrow
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The EPD had conducted an open tendering exercise earlier to engage 17 contractors under service contracts to provide collection and recycling services of waste paper across the territory, so as to maintain or even enhance the quality and quantity of local waste paper recycling, promote the sustainable development of the local waste paper recycling industry, and support a green recovery and a circular economy in Hong Kong.
Under the service contracts, the contractors will collect waste paper (including cardboard, newspapers and office papers) from street corner recycling shops/mobile recyclers/frontline collectors across the territory. The contractors will then carry out processes including screening, sorting and baling locally, before exporting the waste paper to the Mainland or overseas (e.g. Southeast Asia) markets for recycling into paper products, thus turning waste into resources.
A spokesman for the EPD said, "Starting from September 18, the contractors and their associated street corner recycling shops and mobile recyclers are required to purchase waste paper that meets the specified quality standard, i.e. not wet or mixed with other impurities, from frontline collectors and other waste paper producers at a price which is not less than the designated recovery price of waste paper (not less than 70 cents per kilogram in the first six months of the contract period, and from then on the price will be adjusted every three months according to the actual export price of waste paper in the market). This is to maintain or even enhance the overall quality and market competitiveness of local waste paper, thereby supporting the waste paper recycling industry as well as employment opportunities in the industry, including frontline collectors."
Details of the services are available on the EPD website:
www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/waste-paper-collection-and-recycling-services.html.
Ends/Thursday, September 17, 2020
Issued at HKT 11:00
Issued at HKT 11:00
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