Producer Responsibility: Circular Economy Turning Waste into Resources Dr. Alain Lam 1 April 2016
Where we stand Limited land but sizeable waste burden Construction waste ~3900 tpd In 2014, ~14800 tpd of solid waste disposed of at landfills in Hong Kong Municipal solid waste ~9800 tpd
From landfill surveys Waste or resource!? We dump into our landfills: 3648 tpd of food waste 435 tpd of newsprint 378 tpd of cardboard 258 tpd of glass bottles 155 tpd of office paper 129 tpd of PET bottles and etc. At this cost
New day, new challenge Evolving objectives as the city develops 1980s 1990s 2000s Earlier years: Proper control of pollution Present days: Effective management of waste Future generations: Sustainable use of resources 2010s
Use less, waste less A key to resource sustainability
Ends and means Blueprint for sustainable use of resource 2013-2022
We need to change Producer responsibility is a tool to drive behavioural change WHO? Can be: manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers or any other parties to bear WHAT responsibilities? Financial responsibility as polluter pays Physical responsibility to follow compliance system for WHAT environmental benefits? Ultimately achieving prevention, recycling and proper disposal of waste
We need to change Producer responsibility is a tool to drive behavioural change WHO? Can be: manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers or any other parties to bear WHAT responsibilities? Importers Manufacturers Shared Financial responsibility responsibilities to pay recycling fee Physical responsibility to follow compliance system for WHAT environmental benefits? Consumers Retailers Recyclers Ultimately achieving prevention, recycling and proper disposal of waste Government
Producer Responsibilities
Producer Responsibility: Plastic shopping bags (PSB) First-ever PRS in Hong Kong $0.5 levy for each plastic bag provided Implemented mainly in supermarkets, convenience stores and other chain stores Starting from 9 July 2009 Effective until 31 March 2015
PSB: PRS concept illustrated Consumers and retailers to share eco-responsibility 90% PSB use Consumers to bear financial responsibility to pay levy, or to bear physical responsibility to practise BYOB Retailers to bear financial responsibility to absorb compliance cost, and to bear physical responsibility to follow compliance system
Producer responsibility Plastic bag charging already started from 1.4.2015 12
Producer responsibility Two new mandatory schemes in the pipeline Glass beverage bottles Bill introduced into LegCo Collection network expanding Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Bill enacted on 17.3 2016 Treatment facility under development 13
PRS version 2.0 for WEEE Circular economy to turn waste into resource NEW PRODUCTS In line with the polluter pays principle, recycling fee levied on new products manufactured in or imported into Hong Kong to help finance the PRS. SUPPLY CHAIN STAKEHOLDERS GOVERNMENT CONSUMERS PRS CONTRACTOR(S) PRS contractor(s) are appointed by the Government to coordinate collection of used products discarded from consumers and proper treatment by competent recyclers until they become resource again. COLLECTION AGENTS USED PRODUCTS
Producer responsibility Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Existing Problems Annual generation of 70,000 tonnes of WEEE in Hong Kong, mostly exported to developing countries rather than locally landfilled Progressive economic development and tightening of import control over WEEE in the developing countries, and an expected decline in the demand for secondhand products in markets outside Hong Kong Sole reliance on export as a major outlet may not be sustainable in a long run 15
Producer responsibility Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Policy Objective Introduce legislation for producer responsibility scheme in line with polluter pays Coupled with new treatment plant to be developed, to ensure proper treatment of locally generated e- waste in Hong Kong Commitment under the Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resource 16
Producer responsibility WEEE legislative framework Major Amendments (I) Impose recycling levy on eight types of regulated electrical equipment (REE)* Washing machine, refrigerator, air conditioner and television Computer (i.e. desktop, laptop and tablet), printer, scanner and monitor Levy level to be determined on full-cost basis after ascertaining all costs * The above categories of REE account for about 85% of all WEEE generated in Hong Kong 17
Producer responsibility WEEE legislative framework Major Amendments (II) Recycling levy payable by importers and manufacturers, recoverable from other stakeholders by market mechanism Only for new products distributed in Hong Kong for the local market Fee collection mechanism broadly reflecting consensus with the trades 18
Producer responsibility WEEE legislative framework Major Amendments (III) Consumer purchasing new equipment may have an equivalent used item removed free of charge; sellers to make arrangements for removal service Collector to deliver the used item to a licenced recycler who has to undertake proper treatment in accordance to licence terms Ensure availability of convenient and reliable removal service at consumer s choice 19
Producer responsibility WEEE legislative framework Major Amendments (IV) Eight types of regulated electrical equipment subject to new provisions for disposal control when abandoned to become waste Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling to be licensed; Permit required for import and export Landfills no longer accepting regulated e-waste 20
Producer responsibility WEEE Implementation timetable First reading at LegCo on 18 March 2015 WEEE Bill enacted on 17 March 2016 Work actively to formulate operation details with members of the trade and prepare for the necessary subsidiary legislations Treatment facility to commission service in mid 2017 Full implementation within 2017 21
Sustainable use of resource: An Illustration New products 1. Importers and manufacturers to pay recycling levy In line with the polluter pays principle, a recycling levy is levied on new products to help finance PRS. SUPPLY CHAIN STAKEHOLDERS GOVERNMENT CONSUMERS PRS CONTRACTOR 2. Recycling levy deposited in General Revenue with resource allocated to hire PRS contractor 3. PRS contractor to provide service to consumers in accordance to contract and statutory requirements (to be continued) 4. Consumers to share out recycling levies by market mechanism
Sustainable use of resource: An Illustration 1. Consumers entitled to free removal services and sellers required to make arrangements 2. Other means of collection available for convenient participation in e-waste recycling 3. New statutory control in place for storage, treatment, import/export and landfilling of regulated e-waste Used products CONSUMERS PRS CONTRACTOR A PRS contractor is appointed by the Government to coordinate collection of spent products from consumers and proper treatment by competent recyclers. COLLECTION AGENTS
Circular economy is requisite to effective recycling Source separation Reuse/recycling outlets Waste Resource Efficient collection Proper treatment
Producer Responsibility : Key Considerations Source separation Reuse/recycling outlets Efficient collection Proper treatment All aspects require coherent development PRS transform waste into resources to form a circular economy
PRS transform waste into resources All aspects require coherent development Source separation Reuse/recycling outlets Efficient collection Proper treatment
Enhancing WEEE Collection Service A hotline (Tel: 2676 8888) was launched in Nov 2015 to provide a one-stop service CNY WEEE Recycling programme - to arrange free collection service for housing estates/ buildings that have registered for the service Schools Recycle WEEE programme to encourage recycling of computer products and other electrical or electronic products that are retired from use at schools
Community green stations One for each of the 18 Districts, operated by non-profit organizations to enhance green education & recycling support
Community green stations One for each of the 18 Districts, operated by non-profit organizations to enhance green education & recycling support
Sha Tin CGS @Shek Mun, previously a temporary car park
Sha Tin CGS @Shek Mun, beautified as a green public place
Eastern CGS @Shau Kei Wan, underneath Island Eastern Corridor
Eastern CGS @Shau Kei Wan, with improved public facilities
Eastern CGS @Shau Kei Wan, night view
Green station in action Initial success in rebranding recycling
Green station in action Multi-purpose room for green activities
Green station in action Gathering place for community engagement
Green station in action Outreaching to local residents
Green station in action Vehicles to collect low-value recyclables
PRS transform waste into resources All aspects require coherent development Source separation Reuse/recycling outlets Efficient collection Proper treatment
Pilot Projects on WEEE Funding non-profits to operate voluntary recycling programmes to accumulate experience and to facilitate environmental education Electrical Appliances St James Settlement operates the WEEE Go Green project in EcoPark with funding from the Govt. Computers and CRT Monitors & TVs Caritas Hong Kong in Kowloon Bay recycles and donates computer products 41
WEEE Treatment & Recycling Facility 3 ha of land reserved at EcoPark for a treatment facility with a capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum Design-Build-Operate (DBO) contract arrangement to hire one single WEEE Management Contractor to operate the treatment facilities for 10 years 42
WEEE Treatment & Recycling Facility Input Secondary raw materials Plastics Refridgerators Air Conditioners Proven Refrigerator Line, Air Conditioner Line, E- Scrap Line, 4 TV Monitor Lines Technology Alumina Copper IT / Household Iron Monitors and TVs
Producer Responsibility: Circular Economy Turning Waste into Resources Dr. Alain Lam 1 April 2016