A guide to Hong Kong's waste-charging scheme

Adopting the 'polluter-pays' principle, the MSW scheme will require Hongkongers to buy designated rubbish bags to dispose of their domestic waste, as well as commercial and industrial waste.

This strategy is to help tackle the high volume of waste that goes to our landfills every day while encouraging the public to practice waste reduction and recycling.

The new waste-charging scheme will commence on August 1, with a six-month phasing-in period in place (verbal warnings will be given instead of taking enforcement actions) to help Hongkongers ease into the new scheme. Meanwhile, a trial run will be implemented at government offices starting April 1. 

There are two charging modes: 'charging by designated bags/designated labels' and 'charging by weight through gate-fee'. The first mode applies to most residential, commercial, and institutional premises, while the second mode applies to oversized or irregularly shaped waste from commercial and industrial premises.

To simply put, the scheme will require the public to properly wrap their waste in designated bags or attach a designated label before disposing of it at the communal waste areas. This applies to all domestic/household waste, as well as waste from commercial and industrial buildings, shops, restaurants, etc. However, construction waste, chemical waste, and clinical waste will have their own separate charging systems.

Designated bags and labels come with anti-counterfeit features and will only be sold at authorised retail outlets, including supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and online platforms. The full list can be found at mswcharging.gov.hk. 

The charge for designated bags is $0.11 per litre for the first three years, with nine different bag sizes ranging from 3L to 100L available. For oversized waste that cannot be bagged, a designated label must be affixed, and a uniform rate of $11 per label will be charged.

The straight answer is to reduce your waste output. You can reuse and recycle through various channels, including the Environmental Protection Department's Green@Community recycling network with recycling stations, stores, and mobile collection booths throughout Hong Kong. You can also use the Waste Reduction Calculator to calculate your monthly expenditure on MSW charging.

How do I know if my bag is 'properly wrapped'?

As long as you can tightly fasten the rubbish bag with nothing protruding or piercing through the bag, you're good to go.

What happens if I don't wrap my waste or label it properly?

Anyone who fails to comply to the relevant registration on MSW charging will be subject to a penalty of $1,500, but repeated or serious offenders may have to face a maximum fine of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

Does MSW charging apply to rubbish thrown in public bins?

According to the Environmental Protection Department, it will not be necessary to use designated bags or labels when disposing of waste in bins set up in public spaces. However, household waste should not be disposed of in these bins.

What are some ways to save expenditure on MSW charging?

The straight answer is to reduce your waste output. You can reuse and recycle through various channels, including the Environmental Protection Department's Green@Community recycling network with recycling stations, stores, and mobile collection booths throughout Hong Kong. You can also use the Waste Reduction Calculator to calculate your monthly expenditure on MSW charging.

For further information on the MSW charging scheme, head over to mswcharging.gov.hk/en for more details.