HK$90 million spent on shelved pay-as-you-throw scheme ‘not wasted’: Hong Kong minister
Environment chief Tse Chin-wan says no public resources have been wasted, as he has noticed an increase in public awareness of waste reduction and recycling
Hong Kong’s environment minister has defended the spending of HK$90 million (US$11.6 million) on promoting a now-suspended pay-as-you-throw scheme, arguing that public money was not wasted as the campaign had helped to boost awareness of waste recycling.
Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Saturday the government had spent about HK$90 million on the waste-charging scheme last year, covering the costs of promotion, administration and production of designated labels and waste bags.
He added that the 65 government personnel tasked with handling the scheme had now been reassigned to other work.
“Whether we implement the waste-charging scheme, we must carry out waste recycling promotion. Therefore, these efforts are not wasted,” he said on a radio programme.
“On the other hand, there’s also no waste of manpower – all resources are being used effectively in the process.”
The environment chief said he had also noticed an increase in public awareness of waste reduction and recycling.