Government tackles worsening waste problem

Intends to spend US$3.9 billion on waste handling facilities.

Because of space shortages at landfills, the government said it will spend up to US$3.9 billion to build infrastructure to handle waste until 2021. The infrastructure includes facilities treating food waste, building incinerators and expanding landfills.

Existing landfills will be full within seven years. Food leftovers represent about 40% of the city’s trash.

Undersecretary for Environment Christine Loh said the city’s plans to expand landfills at its nature reserves and build large incinerators have met with opposition from lawmakers and environmental groups, delaying earlier government proposals.

“We are going to have to build a whole range of hardware to deal with the waste we aren’t able to reuse, recycle,” Loh noted.

Part of the proposed spending includes two food waste treatment plants and landfill expansion. The government is building an incinerator in Tuen Mun, in northwest Hong Kong.

Hong Kong wants to increase its recycling rate for materials including metals, glass and paper to 55% from 48%, Loh said.

To achieve this goal, the government wants to allocate ship berths for recyclers. It also wants to implement a levy on each glass bottle imported into Hong Kong, which would be passed on to consumers.