Waste Management and Recycling Guide for Hong Kong Residents
Hong Kong faces a waste crisis. The city's landfills are rapidly filling up, and each resident generates an average of 1.53 kg of municipal solid waste (MSW) per day — one of the highest rates in Asia. The government's Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme, which has been progressively rolled out, aims to change this by making waste disposal a visible cost for every household. Whether or not the scheme is fully active in your building yet, understanding proper waste management and recycling is increasingly important for every Hong Kong resident.
Understanding the MSW Charging Scheme
Under the MSW charging scheme, residents are required to use designated garbage bags for disposing of general waste. These bags come in various sizes and are sold at supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retail outlets across Hong Kong. The pricing is based on a per-litre basis, meaning the more waste you produce, the more you pay.
- Designated bags — available in sizes from 3 litres to 100 litres, priced at HK$0.11 per litre. A standard 15-litre bag costs approximately HK$1.7, while a household-sized 20-litre bag costs around HK$2.2.
- Large item labels — for bulky waste such as furniture and mattresses, residents must affix designated labels costing HK$11 each.
- What is exempt — recyclable materials placed in designated recycling bins do not require designated bags. Food waste deposited in smart food waste recycling bins is also exempt.
The financial incentive is clear: the more you recycle, the less you spend on designated bags. A household that actively recycles and composts food waste can reduce their designated bag usage by 40–60%.
What Can Be Recycled in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's recycling infrastructure has improved significantly in recent years. Here is what you can recycle and where:
- Paper — newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes (flattened), office paper, and paper packaging. Must be clean and dry. Contaminated paper (food-stained pizza boxes, used tissues) goes in general waste.
- Plastics — all plastics marked with recycling codes 1–7, including bottles, containers, packaging, and plastic bags. Rinse containers before recycling. Hong Kong now accepts a much wider range of plastics than before through GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling stores.
- Metals — aluminium cans, tin cans, and metal lids. Rinse and flatten where possible.
- Glass bottles — glass bottle recycling bins (purple bins) are located throughout Hong Kong, often near refuse collection points. Rinse bottles and remove caps.
- Small electrical appliances — through the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Programme, you can arrange free collection of old appliances when purchasing a new one from a participating retailer, or drop them at designated collection points.
- Regulated electrical equipment — air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, and computers are covered by the producer responsibility scheme. Retailers must offer free removal of your old appliance when delivering a new one.
GREEN@COMMUNITY Recycling Network
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) operates a network of GREEN@COMMUNITY facilities across all 18 districts. These include:
- Recycling stores — staffed facilities that accept a wide range of recyclables including plastics, paper, metals, glass, small electronics, regulated electrical equipment, rechargeable batteries, fluorescent tubes, and more. You can earn GREEN$ reward points redeemable at partner stores.
- Recycling stations — larger facilities in some districts that accept additional materials such as furniture, clothing, and books for redistribution.
- Smart recycling machines — reverse vending machines for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, offering instant GREEN$ rewards. Located in MTR stations, shopping malls, and public housing estates.
Find your nearest facility by visiting the EPD website or searching for "GREEN@COMMUNITY" in Google Maps.
Food Waste: Hong Kong's Biggest Challenge
Food waste accounts for approximately 30% of Hong Kong's municipal solid waste, making it the single largest category. Reducing and properly managing food waste is the most impactful action any household can take.
- Smart food waste recycling bins — the government has been installing these in public housing estates and private developments across Hong Kong. Residents register a smart card and can deposit food waste daily. The collected waste is processed at the O·PARK facility on Lantau Island, where it is converted into biogas and compost.
- Home composting — for village house residents with garden space, composting bins or bokashi systems can process kitchen scraps into useful compost. Several social enterprises in Hong Kong sell composting kits and provide guidance.
- Food waste reduction — plan meals before shopping, store food properly (Hong Kong's humidity causes faster spoilage), and use a "first in, first out" system for perishables. The Love Food, Hate Waste campaign provides practical Hong Kong-specific tips.
Handling Renovation Waste
If you are renovating your flat, construction and demolition (C&D) waste requires special handling. It is illegal to dump renovation waste in domestic refuse bins. Your renovation contractor should arrange for proper disposal at one of Hong Kong's designated sorting facilities or landfills, and the cost should be included in your renovation quotation. For small quantities, you can use the designated public fill reception facilities at locations including Tseung Kwan O Area 137 and Tuen Mun Area 38. Always ask your contractor for documentation confirming proper waste disposal.
Building-Level Waste Management
Work with your building's management office or Owners' Corporation to improve waste infrastructure:
- Ensure three-colour recycling bins (blue for paper, yellow for aluminium, brown for plastics) are available and properly maintained on each floor or in the refuse room
- Request installation of glass bottle recycling bins if not already provided
- Lobby for smart food waste recycling bins — the EPD provides them free of charge to participating buildings
- Organise a recycling awareness campaign for residents, especially to educate about contamination (the biggest problem in Hong Kong's recycling stream)
Proper waste management is no longer optional in Hong Kong. With landfill space running out and the charging scheme making waste disposal a direct household cost, every resident benefits from understanding and participating in recycling programmes.