Recycling Fund Launches New “Standard Projects” Scheme

The General Office of the State Council recently announced an action plan to reform the Mainland’s solid waste import policy, which includes barring the import of 24 types of solid wastes including waste plastics, unsorted scrap paper, discarded textile materials and Vanadium slag. The HKSAR Government is concerned about the impacts of the new policy on the recycling industry in Hong Kong, especially plastics and paper recyclers.

To help recyclers tackle this new challenge, the Recycling Fund has earmarked $20 million for the launch of a new category of Small-scale Standard Projects scheme. It aims to upgrade the capability of local recyclers in processing waste plastics, turning waste plastics into plastic pellets to fulfil the Mainland’s import requirement. The scheme is now open for applications. Applicants can apply for funding support, through simplified procedures, on procurement of related equipment, including plastics sorter, label and cap remover, washer, dryer, and pelletizer. Funding ceiling under this scheme is up to $1 million for each application.

In order to provide more timely support to recyclers, applicants can start the purchase of the equipment one day after the submission of the application to the Secretariat of the Recycling Fund [i.e. before the application has been vetted by the Advisory Committee on Recycling Fund (RFAC)]. However, it is still subject to approval by RFAC.

In addition, the Recycling Fund has already earmarked $50 million for another scheme to encourage recyclers to use compactor trucks to enhance operation efficiency and to address the problem of high transportation costs for recyclables, in particular plastics and papers. The scheme is now inviting applications as well.

In the past, most of the collected waste paper in Hong Kong are exported to other markets and not causing much pressure to landfills. Hence, only a few projects were supported under Recycling Fund as the others were not able to demonstrate landfill diversion. To help local paper recyclers address the challenge presented by the new policy, they can apply for funding support from existing Small-scale Standard Projects scheme to purchase equipment such as conveying belt, shredder, forklift truck, baler, to enhance efficiency and quality in processing local waste papers to ensure the waste papers can continue to be exported to the Mainland and overseas market instead of dumping to landfills; and from the Enterprise Support Programme for additional manpower to increase the capability in sorting and processing waste papers in order to meet the Mainland’s new requirements on waste papers.

In view of the Mainland’s new policy on importing solid waste, the Secretariat of the Recycling Fund has organised a consultation meeting earlier with representatives from the recycling industry and the Government, and RFAC members to discuss possible measures under the Recycling Fund to assist recyclers to tackle the challenges ahead. After considering the situation and comments from the recycling industry, RFAC has endorsed the above measures to enhance the capability of recycling industry.

The HKSAR Government launched the $1 billion Recycling Fund in October 2015 to provide funding support to enhance the overall capability, capacity, efficiency and skills of the local recycling industry, and to help develop the market for recycled products by providing more market information. It also aims to raise the quantity and value of recyclables, thus reducing the amount of waste disposed of at landfills.

The Recycling Fund comprises two programmes, namely Enterprise Support Programme and Industry Support Programme, to provide funding support to eligible enterprises and non-profit distributing organisations respectively. The Small-scale Standard Projects under the Enterprise Support Programme allow SMEs to submit applications, reports and apply for funding disbursement with simplified procedures. The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is the implementation partner and secretariat of the Recycling Fund.

Applications for the Fund are accepted all year round and the next cut-off time for applications will be 30 November. For more information, please visit the Recycling Fund website: www.recyclingfund.hk; or contact the secretariat at (852) 2788 5658 or email: enquiry@recyclingfund.hk.

For other media enquiries, please contact Chloe Chau of HKPC at tel.: (852) 2788 6158 or email: chloechau@hkpc.org.

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Mandy Wu
General Manager
Business Development and Marketing
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Tel: (852) 2788 6168
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: mandywu@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

4 September 2017