Government enhances Plastic Shopping Bag Charging Scheme and fully implements producer responsibility scheme on glass beverage containers
******************************************************************************************
The Government proposed to amend the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603) to enhance the PSB Charging Scheme in place, including to:
(1) remove the present exemption for PSBs carrying frozen/chilled foodstuff items;
(2) tighten the scope of exemption such that free PSBs can only be provided when purchasing foodstuff items without packaging or not wholly contained in any packaging, or food and beverage takeaway items in non-airtight packaging, subject to the basic principle of "one free PSB per single transaction"; and
(3) increase the charging level per PSB from the current amount of at least 50 cents to at least $1.
After the passage of the legislative amendments, the Government will prepare best practice guidelines and allow some time for the trade and the public to get prepared for the new arrangements. The Government aims to implement the enhanced Scheme on December 31.
Moreover, the Government also proposed to make the Product Eco-responsibility (Regulated Articles) Regulation to provide for the operation details for the implementation of the GPRS, including setting the level of the recycling levy (proposed at $0.98 per litre). The Government aims to fully implement the GPRS in the first quarter of 2023.
A Government spokesman said, "The Environment Bureau published the Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035 last year, setting out the vision of 'Waste Reduction‧Resources Circulation‧Zero Landfill'. The proposed enhancement to the PSB Charging Scheme and full implementation of the GPRS will be another step forward in Hong Kong's work on waste reduction and recycling, preparing for the implementation of municipal solid waste charging in the future."
Ends/Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Issued at HKT 12:50
Issued at HKT 12:50
NNNN