60% can afford a monthly fee of 20 HKD
The Democratic Alliance successfully interviewed 1,199 Hong Kong citizens by phone from February 17 to 23. 46% of respondents believe that establishing waste charging can effectively reduce waste at the source; 80% of respondents indicated that if the government implements waste charging, it could cultivate habits of waste classification and recycling, thereby reducing the amount of waste. Regarding the model and level of waste charging, 40% of respondents accepted a fixed monthly payment, while 60% indicated they could afford a fee of 20 HKD or less per month.
The Democratic Alliance believes that the survey reflects that citizens are gradually understanding the principle of "shared responsibility" for waste across Hong Kong, and that economic measures can actually lead to behavioral changes among citizens. However, the survey also revealed that 30% of respondents believe that waste charging cannot truly achieve waste reduction at the source, with two in ten expressing concerns about increased economic burdens, indicating that economic burden remains one of the more concerning issues for respondents.
The Democratic Alliance suggests that the government could initially trial a waste charging level of 21 to 30 HKD, and as long as citizens change their living habits and enhance waste classification and recycling, adjustments can be made during actual implementation; additionally, the government could emulate the current practices in South Korea and Taiwan by introducing prepaid garbage bags of different sizes for citizens to purchase according to their needs, establishing the principle of "pay more for more waste, pay less for less waste", and the "pay-per-bag" charging model is more transparent and fair than the "monthly payment" method. At the same time, the government should provide appropriate assistance measures for citizens in need, allowing the entire society to participate in waste reduction.
Opportunities to Promote the Development of the Recycling Industry
Furthermore, the implementation of community recycling measures also determines the success or failure of waste reduction at the source; however, the recycling industry in Hong Kong has not been able to truly fulfill its role in recycling. The Democratic Alliance believes this is an opportunity to promote the development of the entire industry, strengthen community recycling, and suggests that the fees collected from waste charging be allocated to a fund dedicated to promoting recycling, thereby continuously advancing the recycling industry in Hong Kong; it also recommends that the government improve planning and make good use of restored landfill areas, turning these rehabilitated landfill sites into valuable land resources for society.
