Government awards contracts for Municipal Solid Waste Charging: Supply of Designated Bags to the Environmental Protection Department
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EPD conducted an open tender exercise for the DBs contracts on June 10, 2022. However, the tender prices of all conforming tenders that could fully comply with the technical requirements were much higher than expected. To utilise public financial resources prudently, the department cancelled the tender exercise. Subsequently, the department made changes to the specifications of DBs and the terms of tender documents with a view to reducing the production costs of DBs; it also allowed the production process to be conducted outside the territory of Hong Kong so as to confine the tender prices to the original estimates. The department conducted another open tender exercise for the DBs contracts on March 31, 2023, and received a total of 45 tenders by the tender closing date on May 12. The tender prices of all successful tenderers are lower than the original estimates.
An EPD spokesman said, "We anticipate that the contractors could commence the production of DBs in October so as to ensure a stable and sufficient supply on the market before the implementation of MSW charging on April 1 next year."
In addition, to ensure the production quality of the DBs, each contractor holds a valid ISO9001 Quality Management System Certification and is required to conduct quality testing on the DBs at an independent accredited laboratory in accordance with the contract requirements. The EPD will also conduct random sampling and quality testing of the DBs.
The spokesman added, "EPD will continue to actively prepare for the implementation of MSW charging on April 1 next year. In particular, a territory-wide public education and publicity campaign under the theme of 'Recycle More, Dump Less, Save More' was launched in mid-August through the Environmental Campaign Committee in order to deepen the knowledge of the general public on MSW charging; advocate behavioural change to reduce waste generation at source and to proactively practise clean recycling; and remind citizens to comply with the legislative requirements. The campaign will continue until the fourth quarter next year. Furthermore, the Government will arrange to lay before the Legislative Council (LegCo) the subsidiary legislation for appointing the implementation date of MSW charging for negative vetting at the first meeting after the LegCo's summer recess (i.e. October 18)."
Ends/Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Issued at HKT 14:33
Issued at HKT 14:33
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