Policies

The State encourages and supports cleaner production and minimization of the generation of solid wastes. In recent years, MEP has made great efforts to promote cleaner production, including policy and regulation making, technical training, advanced experience spreading and etc. Law of the People’s Republic of China on Prevention of Environmental Pollution Caused by Solid Waste, effective on April 1st, 2005, stipulates: The principle of prevention of environmental pollution caused by solid waste in China includes reduction of the generation and harm of solid waste, recycling and disposal of solid waste in environmentally sound manner. The state takes measures to promote cleaner production and circular economy. The state manages to promote research on techniques and facility reducing generation and harm of industrial solid waste, publicizing the catalog of unadvanced techniques and facilities need to be eliminated. Industrial corporation should choose and use materials, energy and other resources properly, reduce generation and harm of industrial solid waste. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China A Waste Reduction Framework Plan was launched in November 1998 to minimize the amount of waste produced that requires disposal and to promote recycling of different types of wastes. One initiative being undertaken is to study waste management tools and technologies that can reduce the amount of waste requiring final disposal. The Government has reserved land to set up a Recovery Park and encourage development of waste minimization and recycling technologies. A Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste for 2005-2014 has been published in 2005 to advocate waste avoidance and minimization in Hong Kong and outline the HKSAR Government's three-tier approach to achieve a sustainable waste-management strategy: waste avoidance and minimization; reuse, recovery and recycling; and bulk reduction and disposal of unavoidable waste. Waste charging, producer-responsibility schemes and landfill-disposal bans underpin the framework, with sustained public education and partnership, and legislative backing for support. It also proposes to develop state-of-the-art Integrated Waste Management Facilities with incineration as the core technology for final waste treatment. A territory-wide waste recovery programme was introduced in January 2005 to facilitate separation of different types of wastes at sources. A 20-hectare EcoPark is being developed by the HKSAR Government to provide long term land for the recycling industry, which would facilitate local recycling of recovered wastes. In parallel, the feasibility of introducing a producer responsibility scheme on handling of obsolete electrical and electronic equipment is being studied. HKSAR Government provides funding support to the development of recycling technologies through the Environment and Conservation Fund and the Innovation and Technology Fund. In addition, Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), a statutory organization of the HKSAR, has since 1979 been developing and promoting cleaner production practices and technologies to assist local industries and business sectors in minimization/elimination of their generation of hazardous wastes and other wastes. Relevant examples include provision of the technical support to electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers to comply with the European Union’s Directives on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and the Restriction on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, and development of various technologies/techniques to help various industries to reduce the discharge of hazardous wastes. Under the Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), a multi-technology Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMF) will be commissioned in mid 2010s. The three existing landfills will be extended to provide the final repository for the waste which cannot be recycled or treated, or for the residues after treatment at the IWMF.

Legislation

In August 1996, the State Council enacted “Decisions of State Council on Several Issues of Environmental Protection” which demands to ban, close and stop 15 kinds of enterprises which cause serious pollution to the environment. In January 1999, the State Commission of Economy and Trade issued “List of the backward technology and products for elimination”. In June 2002, the 28th session of the Ninth National People’s Congress Standing Committee of the People’s Republic of China enacted the Law of Cleaner Production Promotion. On April 1st, 2005, China enacted the law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste of the People’s Republic of China.