To study the issues and challenges of implementation of the proposed municipal solid wastes (MSW) charging scheme in private housing estates in Hong Kong

Abstract

Hong Kong had been proposing waste reduction of decades. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) charging was first discussed in 2000s and the bill was proposed to the Legislative Council in 2018. The housing managers are obligated to execute the monitor the residents to dispose the wastes according to the requirement under the ordinance after it is enacted. Some private housing estates cooperated with environmental NGOs to carry out pilot schemes to investigate the responses from different stakeholders. This research would study the attitudes towards MSW charging of the public and housing managers. By studying the estates participated the trial schemes in recent years, attitudes of residents in private housing estates could be evaluated. The study would like to conglomerate the feedbacks from the residents, housing managers and eNGOs so as to figure out how the housing management industry could promote green initiatives and execute MSW charging in a more effective way. The results showed the idea of MSW charging was generally welcome by residents. The willingness to participate in waste reduction and resource sorting depended on ease of access to related facilities and the promotion work within the estates. The bill was discontinued due to incompletion in the current Legislative Council term would postpone the schedule of implementation. Housing managers could have more time in preparing the launch according to the recommendation drawn from this study.