To expand the community recycling network GREEN@COMMUNITY so as to prepare for the future implementation of municipal solid waste charging, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) commissioned non-governmental organisations since 2020 to set up Recycling Stores near residential buildings that receive at least eight types of recyclables, including paper, metals, plastics, glass bottles, regulated electrical equipment, small electrical appliances, fluorescent lamps and tubes, and rechargeable batteries, etc. With the service contracts of the first batch of Recycling Stores about to expire, the EPD today (March 15) announced the arrangements for the follow-on contracts.

     The contracts of the first batch of 22 Recycling Stores, which gradually commenced operation from November 2020, will expire on March 31 this year. Following an open tender process in early 2022, the follow-on contracts for 20 Recycling Stores (except GREEN@KWAI CHUNG and GREEN@SHEUNG WAN) were awarded last November. Nine of them will be operated by new operators (see Annex).

     In the past few months, the operators awarded with the follow-on contracts have been proceeding at full steam with the preparation work. Due to tenancy reasons and technical considerations, 10 Recycling Stores have to be relocated to new locations (see Annex) and will commence operation on April 1, 2023.

     An EPD spokesman said that over 2 million people are residing in public rental housing estates (PRHs). To strengthen the community recycling support in the PRHs, the EPD plans to develop a network of small-scale Recycling Stores in PRHs to facilitate their residents and those living nearby to participate in clean recycling and enhance the cost effectiveness of the recycling network. The EPD is preparing to launch a pilot scheme on the new operation mode in Kwai Tsing District, which is one of the districts with the largest number of PRHs and they are close to single-block buildings, MTR Stations or public transport interchanges. The EPD is working closely with the Housing Department to take forward the pilot scheme, with a view to providing residents of Kwai Tsing District with recycling services in the second quarter of 2023. Moreover, the EPD is planning to extend progressively the scheme to around 50 PRHs.

     In view of the aforementioned pilot scheme in Kwai Tsing District, GREEN@KWAI CHUNG (Recycling Store) will cease operation on March 31 this year after the expiry of the contract to avoid duplication of resources. The EPD will arrange GREEN@KWAI TSING (Recycling Station) to set up a Recycling Spot near the existing GREEN@KWAI CHUNG and to operate the Recycling Spots and housing collection services currently run by GREEN@KWAI CHUNG to maintain the public's habit of recycling.

     Regarding GREEN@SHEUNG WAN, as there was no tender that conformed to the specifications laid down in the tender documents during the tendering process last year, the tender procedure concerned was cancelled. The EPD conducted a re-tendering exercise on December 16, 2022 and is now evaluating the tenders. The EPD is pressing ahead to arrange transitional service to facilitate Sheung Wan residents to participate in recycling.

     The spokesman said, "The EPD encourages the public to assimilate the practice of clean recycling into their daily lives. Members of the public can earn GREEN$ points under the GREEN$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme for gift redemption when they deposit designated recyclables at any of the 160 collection points of GREEN@COMMUNITY."

Ends/Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Issued at HKT 20:50

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