Govt to assess data of waste charging scheme's trial before deciding next step

Tse Chin-wan, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, stated on Saturday (March 30) that the government would evaluate the data gathered from the waste charging scheme's trial before deciding the scheme's next course of action.

The government postponed the pay-as-you-throw scheme by four months to August, with its trial to begin next week at 14 locations, including at public and private residential blocks, shopping malls, and restaurants.

Asked whether the scheme would be implemented in August as planned, Tse told a program that authorities would examine the results first.

"As for the next step of the waste charging scheme, how we deploy it will depend on a comprehensive assessment of the situation. This includes the results of our trial, and the feedback we receive from various parties in society. We will definitely take into account all aspects, and not just focus on one or two perspectives," he said.

The government would also impose a ban on single-use plastic products, in two phases, with the first phase taking effect on April 22.

Tse said around 20 percent of around 15,000 eateries visited by inspectors last month had already transitioned away from disposable plastic products, such as straws and stirrers.

He believed the remaining 80 percent of eateries would gradually adopt alternative items to replace single-use plastic products.

The environment minister pointed out that although there will be a grace period of six months following the regulation's implementation, it is improbable that the government would prolong it.