Producer Responsibility Schemes

This environmentally-driven policy is based on the idea that those who produce pollution should be charged for it – ‘polluter pays’ – and is a key tool in the HK government’s strategy on waste reduction. The PRS concept requires relevant stakeholders including manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers to share the responsibility for the collection, recycling, treatment and disposal of end-of-life products. The goals of a PRS include a reduction in the use of the product, increased collection for recycling and payment of funds for collection and recycling of the material.

Hong Kong has two mandatory producer responsibility schemes in place so far. These are the Plastic Shopping Bag Charging Scheme and the PRS on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The necessary regulations have been put in place to formalise the PRS on Glass Beverage Containers. 

Hong Kong has two mandatory producer responsibility schemes in place so far. These are the Plastic Shopping Bag Charging Scheme and the PRS on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The necessary regulations have been put in place to formalise the PRS on Glass Beverage Containers and the consultation for the  PRS on Plastic Beverage Containers is happening now.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

During 2019 and 2020, a variety of government and voluntary pilot schemes have been initiated to gain experience and data on the collection of plastic beverage bottles. There are reverse vending machine (RVM) trials taking place across Hong Kong which allow the consumer to return their plastic beverage bottles (and some liquid cartons) to vending machines, providing the returnee with an incentive such as value on their Octopus or coupons for shopping. These machines will be only one method for collection of bottles, given their high cost, the public space they require and the huge volume of bottles available for collection.

Drink Without Waste

Drink Without Waste is an initiative led by the Single-Use Beverage Packaging Working Group, a broad collation of stakeholders focused on reducing waste from beverage consumption. Established in September 2017, this unique group of stakeholders, including organisations representing producers, distributors, retail, waste management and NGOs is working together to solve the problem of waste created by beverage packaging. After commissioning a comprehensive study on how to effectively manage beverage packaging waste, a position paper was created, detailing the four main strategies to be focused on: reduce, redesign, recover and recycle. Whilst none of these strategies are new, the fact that these stakeholders are working together, looking at the bigger picture and taking all four aspects into consideration to achieve the overall goal of reduction of beverage containers to landfill is positive and exciting.

More than simply commissioning papers and writing position statements, the group is taking action to move forward with the goal of solving the problem of beverage container waste.  In 2020, the group created Design for Recycling Guidelines for beverage containers based on global standards for Hong Kong; initiating a pilot collection scheme for plastic bottles; trialling new collection bin styles and strategies; promoting the collection of plastic beverage bottles and liquid cartons and producing a second position paper on a plastic bottle PRS to help inform the government.

Types of PSB covered:

• All PSBs, regardless of whether or not there is a handle or other carrying device on the bag
• Paper bags with plastic lamination or components, including plastic accessories
• Non-woven reusable bags made of plastic

Types of PSB not covered:

• Bags used for food hygiene, i.e. food without packaging, food in unsealed packaging or frozen/chilled foods
• Bags used for packaging, i.e. bags that have been sealed before they are delivered to the retailer or that form part of the packaging
• Bags provided as part of a service, e.g. the bags used for pills at a medical clinic and laundry service bags)

Note that the seller keeps the collected fees, so there is no money allocated for the cost of collection or handling of plastic bags post consumer use.

In 2020, the government is considering further amendments to the PRS to tighten the exemptions and increase the levy value as the volume of PSBs to landfill is increasing over time, after an initial drop after the implementation of the PRS.

The PRS on Waste Electric and Electrical Equipment of 2016, implemented on August 1, 2018, regulates the recycling and disposal of regulated electrical equipment, known as REE, which includes the following items:

• air conditioners
• refrigerators
• televisions,
• washing machines
• computers, printers, scanners and monitors

Manufactures and importers must be registered and pay a recycling levy for all REE that is distributed in Hong Kong. When consumers purchase new REE they are entitled to free collection of the same product by the seller who must send the waste equipment to a downstream recycler with an e-Waste Disposal Licence for proper handling. There is a ban on REE to landfill.

 For collection of REE that is not being replaced with new equipment, the government funded WEEE recycling facility in Eco Park can be contacted for free collection.

In 2018, 27,600 tonnes of WEEE was recycled locally out of 42,000 tonnes (66%) collected for recycling, compared to 3,900 in 2017 out of 49,000 tonnes (8%).

Note that as there is no return value given to the consumer, and waste charging is yet to be implemented, there is little incentive for consumers to recycle glass bottles. The government instituted the Glass Container Recycling Charter to encourage organisations to participate in glass recycling in Jan 2019.

The protests during the 2nd half of 2019 prompted the removal of glass recycling bins from the public which was a set-back for glass recycling as consumers and some businesses no longer had a convenient location to recycle their glass.

Slowly over the first half of 2020, the bins were returned.

PICTURED: Johnnie Walker bottle and glasses left ‘on the rocks’

Over 77,000 tonnes of glass bottles were sent to landfill daily in 2018, representing almost 2% of the total weight of MSW, which translates to 28 million tonnes per year. The amount of glass recycled was negligible at only 15,100 tonnes.