Mr. Tse Chin-wan BBS JP
Secretary for Environment and Ecology
Environment and Ecology Bureau
15/F-17/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices,
2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong
The undersigned organizations are deeply concerned over the delay in implementing a Producer Responsibility Scheme covering plastic beverage bottles and liquid cartons.
The producers, distributors, retailers and consumers of plastic beverage bottles and liquid cartons should be held accountable for the environmental impact. The delays are undermining our goal to reduce our reliance on landfilling and putting financial responsibility to recycle the arising waste materials on public funds. The public’s confidence in the government's commitment to environmental sustainability is also attenuated.
We urge the Government to proceed soonest with the relevant legislation obliging producers, distributors and retailers to bear the financial responsibility to recover used beverage packaging – whether by RVM or manually or through established channels such as the GREEN@Community. Meaningful and mandatory targets on package reduction and recycling rates (i.e., >70% after an introduction period) are vital for the scheme’s success. The scheme should be extensively promoted among consumers, and there should be ample opportunities for cleaners and other frontline workers to earn from recycling plastics as they do from paper and metal.
Moreover, we urge the government to mandate waste recycling, including collection and separation at all properties and venues - residential, housing, commercial, government and others.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your positive response and immediate action.
Signatories (in alphabetical order)
