EPD announces new arrangements for plastic recycling set

The GREEN@COMMUNITY network will take over plastic recycling services after the pilot scheme ends.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has announced new plans for the collection and recycling of waste plastics as its pilot scheme for recyclable plastic materials will conclude on 18 January.

It said that once the pilot scheme on Collection & Recycling Services of Plastic Recyclable Materials ends, the GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling network of respective districts will assume responsibility for the relevant plastic recycling services.

Future GREEN@COMMUNITY operators may pass the collected plastics to any EPD-approved recyclers for handling, instead of the three designated recyclers under the pilot scheme, allowing for an open competitive market for the recycling industry and reducing the costs of collection and recycling waste plastics.

The new arrangement ensures that plastics collection services for housing estates under the pilot scheme will remain unaffected, whilst GREEN@COMMUNITY operators can also coordinate with these estates for more flexible collection services for plastics and other recyclables.

This will enhance the cost-effectiveness, with an estimated cost reduction of about 24% as compared with the pilot scheme, the department added.

Looking forward, the government will introduce a licencing scheme through the bill to establish a common legislative framework for producer responsibility schemes to regulate plastic recyclers.

The scope of regulation will cover the types of waste plastics to be treated, treatment methods, recycling and disposal quantities, and environmental impacts to urge the recycling industry to aim for high-quality development as a goal and convert more waste into valuable resources.

The relevant bill will be submitted to the Legislative Council for scrutiny in the first half of this year.