- 78% of participants in the online poll want to postpone the programme; more than half say they do not understand how the system will function
- Lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan, whose office conducted the poll, called it a ‘clear warning sign’ and urged authorities to readjust the implementation time
78% of Hongkongers say waste-charging scheme roll-out should be delayed, online survey finds in “clear warning sign”. Photo: Eugene LeeA large number of Hong Kong residents who participated in an online survey have indicated that the government should delay the controversial waste-charging scheme. A little more than half have said they still do not understand how the system will function for the controversial plan the city is set to introduce this summer.
Lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan, whose office organised the survey, on Thursday urged authorities to improve the city’s recycling support system before the full launch of the pay-as-you-throw scheme.
The survey, conducted using Google Forms, received 959 responses between April 30 and May 6, with 78 per cent of people saying they “totally agreed” or “agreed” with postponing the roll-out.
The findings also showed that although 92.2 per cent of respondents were aware of the planned August 1 launch, 54 per cent said they did not understand the scheme.
“This is a clear warning sign,” Chan said. “The government must think twice and readjust the implementation time and details.”
She also cited the survey’s findings that 21.9 per cent of respondents felt the policy was aimed at increasing government revenue.
She said some residents felt as though authorities were “trying to burn a hole in their pockets”, which she added was “obviously a huge misunderstanding”.
Chan has been advocating a delay to the roll-out, saying the scheme takes a punitive approach which is detrimental to promoting waste reduction and recycling.
The Post earlier reported that authorities were considering deferring the waste-charging scheme, which has been postponed twice, due to problems faced by residents during a trial run covering 14 premises and in operation since April 1.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau is due to address lawmakers at the end of the month about the results.
Hong Kong cleaners confused, overwhelmed by waste-charging scheme
Swani Wu Sze-wan, a district councillor for the Sham Shui Po constituency, said the backlash against waste charging was significant among residents living in private housing estates.
She attributed the resistance to the paucity of recycling facilities in private buildings.
Wu said that even in the 99-tower Mei Foo Sun Chuen, the city’s largest private housing estate, there were no collection facilities for food waste or recycling stations.
Last month, environmental authorities said they aimed to complete the installation of more than 700 food waste collection bins at all 213 public housing estates by August this year, which would cover one-third of the city’s population.
The bureau started accepting applications last year from private housing estates to set up food waste bins, with free installation, maintenance and repair services for up to two years.
By mid-April this year, authorities had received more than 150 applications, of which 40 had been approved.