A study on beverage carton recycling in Hong Kong

Abstract

Beverage cartons have long been a common beverage and food packaging solution in Hong Kong. Having complex compositions, they are officially classified as recyclable in Hong Kong after establishing the local beverage carton recycling plant in late 2019. For the time being, the beverage carton recycling rate in Hong Kong was found lower than in other jurisdictions. This study investigates the problems of beverage carton management in Hong Kong and provides relevant recommendations on fostering beverage carton recycling. Apart from reviewing the frameworks of beverage carton management in Hong Kong and other jurisdictions, the public’s understanding, awareness and behaviours, and opinions concerning beverage carton recycling were also being investigated in the questionnaire survey. A total of 268 respondents aged 18 or above had participated in the online and on-street survey conducted from February to April 2021. In-depth interviews and site visits were also conducted to understand the current situation of beverage carton recycling. Four interviewees from the recycling industry, green groups, and local organizations were invited to share the challenges and obstacles they encountered in promoting beverage carton recycling and their opinions on different policy tools and measures to increase the beverage carton recycling rate in Hong Kong. Most of the respondents and all interviewees thought that the related publicity and education work and support on collection services were insufficient. Half of the respondents did not know that they can recycle beverage cartons in Hong Kong. This study recommends the relevant stakeholders to step up the publicity and education work on promoting beverage carton recycling and explore the feasibility of a producer responsibility scheme on beverage cartons to drive the sustainable development of beverage carton recycling in Hong Kong.