HK$90 million spent on Hong Kong pay-as-you-throw scheme ‘not wasted’: minister

Hong Kong’s environment minister has defended the spending of HK$90 million (US$11.6 million) on promoting a now-suspended pay-as-you-throw scheme, arguing that public money was not wasted as it helped boost awareness of waste recycling.

Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Saturday that the government had spent around HK$90 million on the waste-charging scheme last year, covering the costs of promotion, administration and production of designated labels and waste bags.

He added that the 65 government personnel tasked with handling the scheme had now been reassigned to other work.

“Whether we implement the waste-charging scheme, we must carry out waste recycling promotion. Therefore, these efforts are not wasted,” he said on a radio programme.

“On the other hand, there’s also no waste of manpower – all resources are being used effectively in the process.”

The environment chief said no public resources had been wasted, adding that he had noticed an increase in public awareness of waste reduction and recycling.