The Government published a gazette notice today to appoint April 1, 2024 as the day for implementing municipal solid waste (MSW) charging, with the charges for disposal of construction waste to be adjusted thereafter.

The Secretary for Environment & Ecology has appointed that day as the day on which provisions on relevant offences and their penalties, defences to offences shall come into effect, by virtue of the Waste Disposal (Charging for Municipal Solid Waste) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (Commencement) Notice 2023.

To prevent any deliberate mixing of MSW and construction waste to avoid paying the charge difference as well as cost considerations, the Government said it needs to adjust the charging levels of construction waste disposal from the commencement date of the implementation of MSW charging.

To this end, the Secretary for Environment & Ecology has made the Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Amendment of Schedules) Notice 2023.

The notice will take effect from April 1, 2024, with a view to adjusting the charges to be imposed in respect of construction waste accepted for disposal at the prescribed facilities, including the landfill charge, the sorting charge and the public fill charge.

The existing construction waste disposal charge at landfills is $200 per tonne. Upon the implementation of MSW charging, the MSW disposed of at landfills, and to be charged by a weight-based gate fee, will be charged at $365 per tonne.

The two notices will be laid before the Legislative Council on October 18 for negative vetting.

The Environmental Protection Department said MSW charging sits at the centre of the Government’s overall waste reduction strategy. It encourages the community to reduce waste at source and practise clean recycling by using financial disincentives with a view to reducing the overall waste disposal amount.

The department called on members of the public to proactively learn about the details of MSW charging, cultivate the habits of waste reduction and recycling, and make good use of the community recycling network facilities to prepare for the charge.