The Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal of Products (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025 (Amendment Bill) was published in the Gazette today (March 28) to establish a common legislative framework for Producer Responsibility Schemes (PRSs) applicable to different products, facilitating the progressive inclusion of regulated products in the future.
A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau indicated that a PRS is one of the key policy tools in waste management based on the principle of "polluter pays" and the concept of "eco-responsibility". Stakeholders through the value chain, from manufacturers at one end to consumers at the other, share responsibility through usage reduction, waste recovery, and recycling, thereby reducing waste, and enhancing both the quality and quantity of recyclables more effectively. The Government has already implemented PRSs for plastic shopping bags, waste electronic and electrical equipment, and glass beverage containers.
The spokesman said, "In view of the fact that there are many common elements among the PRSs, to facilitate future implementation of PRSs in a more efficient manner, expanding our waste-to-resources capacities, the Amendment Bill proposes to establish a common legislative framework for PRSs applicable to different products to set out the general operational mechanism for PRSs, the responsibilities of relevant stakeholders, associated regulatory control measures, etc. The operational details applicable to individual regulated products will be prescribed in the respective subsidiary legislations."
To complement the common legislative framework, the Amendment Bill also proposes to make other amendments to the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354), Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603) and relevant subsidiary legislations to regulate the waste disposal and recycling facilities and implement import and export controls for certain product wastes, ban the disposal of vehicle tyre waste at designated disposal facilities, and enable the Director of Environmental Protection to specify the form of any notice, with a view to including digital payment methods for settling fixed penalties.
The spokesman added, "PRSs help develop the circular economy by creating job opportunities and business, while stimulating innovation and use of technologies in waste management. To alleviate the compliance costs of the trades, we will consider providing exemptions as appropriate. We will maintain close liaison with the trades when formulating each scheme and suitably incorporate their views into the operational details. We will also provide adaptation periods for stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the implementation details. Once the trades are ready, we will consult the Panel on Environmental Affairs of the Legislative Council and the Advisory Council on the Environment on the respective operational details. We will introduce individual PRSs having regard to prevailing circumstances and introduce the respective subsidiary legislations to the Legislative Council for negative vetting."
The Amendment Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first and second readings on April 2.
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