Hong Kong’s new import and export control on electrical and electronic waste to take effect on January 1, 2025

     The Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (the Ordinance) will come into effect on January 1, 2025, to implement relevant amendments to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) regarding the control of transboundary movements of electrical and electronic waste (EEW) and their proper management in Hong Kong.
 
     The country is a party to the Basel Convention, and the Basel Convention is applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). In line with the requirements of relevant amendments to the Basel Convention, the Ordinance will accordingly place all EEW under the existing import and export permit control and enable the HKSAR to fulfil obligations under the Basel Convention, alongside the country.
 
     The relevant amendments to the Basel Convention will take effect globally from January 1, 2025. By that time, the export of EEW is only allowed if the state of import and any states of transit have given their prior consent. This measure ensures that EEW undergoing transboundary movement will be properly managed in the state of import, thereby protecting the local environment and public health.
 
     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said, "The Legislative Council passed the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2024 on November 20, 2024, so that all EEW will be controlled by the existing import and export permit system under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354). When the new control comes into effect on January 1, 2025, any person who imports EEW into, or exports EEW out of Hong Kong should obtain a permit from the EPD in advance."
 
     The spokesman added, "For instance, EEW that the recycling trade has imported or exported previously (e.g. waste TV set-up boxes, waste routers, waste power supply units, waste hard disk drives, waste landline phones and waste keyboards) will be subject to control and permits will be required for their import or export. To facilitate the relevant trade to adapt to the new control, the EPD has promulgated the implementation details to the recycling industry, maritime and aviation trade through different channels. The EPD has also visited local EEW recycling facilities to further publicise the changes to operators. Relevant guidelines and information, including a straightforward dummies guide and at a glance summaries, have been uploaded to the EPD webpage (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_wiec_gp3.html).
 
     Moreover, a six-month phasing-in period (i.e. January 1 to June 30, 2025) will be put in place when the new control takes effect. During the phasing-in period, the EPD will suitably exercise discretion when handling cases of non-compliance and will continue to assist the trade in complying with the new control through ongoing communications and strengthened promotional and education efforts.
 
     For enquiries on the import and export permit control of EEW, please call 2755 5462 or email to wasteimportandexport@epd.gov.hk.