Hong Kong should stop agonising over waste charging and focus on recycling
- To cut waste, recycling reforms are needed to centralise processes, stop outsourcing waste management and start making officials accountable
Waste management in Hong Kong involves several government departments, including obviously the Environmental Protection Department, but also the Drainage Services Department, Marine Department, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and even the Highways Department. At the core of this is the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, which is responsible for street cleanliness, household waste collection and waste recycling.
This fragmented structure hinders efficiency. In particular, the separation between the Environmental Protection Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department must be addressed if any waste management scheme is to be successful – Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu should seriously consider merging the two departments.