Green groups on Monday slammed the authorities for indefinitely postponing the city’s waste-charging scheme, claiming it to be an irresponsible move.
The comments came as the SAR government announced yesterday that the waste-charging scheme will be indefinitely postponed instead of being implemented on August 1.
Speaking to a radio program this morning, Leanne Tam Wing-Lam, a campaigner from Greenpeace, said since authorities introduced the pay-as-you-throw scheme, there has been a gradual increase in recycling facilities, with rising awareness of the city’s waste problem.
“This is a good start for waste reduction and should the waste charge scheme not being implemented as scheduled; Hong Kong is giving up on an opportunity to address the loopholes in Hong Kong’s waste management over the years,” she said.
She believed that if government departments continued to implement the scheme on August 1, it would set an example and demonstrate the government’s determination to reduce waste.
Meanwhile, Edwin Lau Che-feng, executive director of The Green Earth, echoed Tam’s views, adding that authorities are not treating the scheme seriously, with the scheme having stayed afloat for almost 20 years.
He said the government is not proactive enough in preparing for waste reduction measures and educational campaigns, and that authorities should be able to estimate the time required to enhance the relevant facilities before the fallout.
“Why do they [the SAR government] seem to be treating the law as a trifling matter?” Lau added.
Hong Kong United Times丨香港聯合時報丨HKUT 