Producer Responsibility Schemes to Drive a Circular Economy

The Panel on Environmental Affairs discussed the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS) on plastic beverage containers and beverage cartons recently. The government proposed adopting a "market-led approach”, where manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers, would all share responsibility for the collection, recycling, treatment and disposal of end-of-life products as early as 2026. It has set initial recovery targets at 30% for plastic beverage containers and 10% for beverage cartons, and will gradually adjust and increase these proposed statutory recovery rates based on actual recovery performance.

Composition of MSW disposed of at landfills in 2023 (Image source: EPD)

Friends of the Earth (HK) echoes the need to accelerate the implementation of this PRS to tackle the growing volume of plastic waste as soon as possible. To do so, we urge the government to adopt the following recommendations:

1.The government must regularly review the responsibility of the key stakeholders, the minimum rebate value, the recycling target, and other components of the PRS. The review process should include a dedicated, independent body to provide advice. To catch up with other global cities, the government should ratchet up recycling targets progressively at a faster pace to achieve Phase 4 targets in five years, with the review process and timing clearly defined within the legislation.

2.Data on recovery rate and related metrics must be made publicly accessible through a transparent reporting system to ensure trust and accountability. Penalties for non-compliance by beverage suppliers or scheme operators should be clearly defined within the legislation and strictly enforced to ensure the scheme's success and integrity.

3.The government should provide more precise details on the types of retail stores mandated to set up designed return points, such as whether they need to be operating at a certain scale or sales volume. It should expand the collection network from large to medium-sized retailers to build a more comprehensive recycling network. At the same time, it should consider setting up bulk collection points in housing estates and recycling shops for all types of used beverage container formats.

Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) Pilot Scheme of the Environmental Protection Department (Image source: EPD)

4.The government should strengthen technical support for the recycling industry. It should expand the scope of the Recycling Fund with a focus on supporting beverage carton recycling and composite material processing, while actively promoting technical cooperation with the Greater Bay Area to introduce advanced technologies. The government should provide specialised support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including technical guidance, training, and transition arrangements, helping them meet new environmental requirements.

5.The government should launch a comprehensive public education campaign to raise awareness through the Environmental Protection Department’s Green Outreach and the Green@Community network. It should also conduct school education activities to promote recycling knowledge and enhance participation through various social media channels. The government should establish a complaint-handling mechanism to ensure the quality of collection and recycling services.

GREEN@YUEN LONG recycling station (Image source: EPD)

6.The government should recognise that packaging remains a major contributor to plastic waste. It should extend producer responsibility to all packaging waste to avoid excessive packaging, increase the recyclability of materials, and restrict the use of single-use plastics.