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Written by: Lao Minyi
2020-08-07 11:00
The last update date: 2020-08-07 11:00The price of waste paper recycling is often subject to fluctuations, and once dropped to 0.2 yuan per kilogram. At the beginning of this year, the Environmental Protection Department invited a number of contractors to collect waste paper from all districts in Hong Kong for screening, sorting and packaging, and re-export for recycling. The lowest price for waste paper recycling in the first six months of the contract is set at 0.7 yuan per kilogram. Similar to the current recycling price, the paper price is no longer subject to fluctuations and the income of scavengers is stabilized.
The results of the bidding were announced last month. A total of 17 contractors were hired. The 23-month contract period is expected to involve 442.6 million yuan. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the contractor will start the service gradually as early as September, and the waste paper required to be recycled shall not be wetted with water, and not be contaminated by other impurities and wastes. It is expected to process a total of about 40,000 to 40,000 per month during the 20-month service period. 80,000 tons of waste paper.
The Environmental Protection Department invites 17 contractors to collect waste paper from all districts in Hong Kong for screening, sorting and packaging, and re-export for recycling. The recycling price per kilogram of waste paper is not less than 7 cents to ensure that scavengers have sufficient incentives to recycle . (Profile Picture / Photo by Liang Pengwei)
The new "Budget" proposes to set aside no less than 300 million yuan each year to implement a waste paper recycling service plan, including a minimum recycling price. The authorities hope to use economic incentives to collect more and higher quality waste paper.
The Environmental Protection Department previously engaged contractors in the form of service contracts to collect waste paper (including paper, newspaper and office paper) from street corner recycling shops, mobile recycling vehicles, and frontline scavengers from all districts in Hong Kong for further processing. After collecting waste paper, the contractor will carry out local screening, sorting and packaging processes, and then export the waste paper to the mainland or overseas (such as Southeast Asia) markets for recycling and regenerating paper products.
The contractor can process up to 80,000 tons of waste paper per month
The "Waste Paper Collection and Recycling Service" contract was awarded last month, involving 17 contractors, including Baguio Waste Treatment and Recycling Co., Ltd., Lau Choi Kee Paper Co., Ltd., On Kee (Hong Kong) Environmental Recycling Co., Ltd., etc. It is expected to be awarded The contract price reached 442.6 million yuan. The contractor has a preparation period of up to three months to establish a recycling network, set up waste paper processing plants and fleets, and hire additional staff. The Environmental Protection Department expects to start the service gradually from September to October at the earliest, and it will be completed in 20 months. During the service period, a total of about 40,000 to 80,000 tons of waste paper are processed every month.
Waste paper recycling prices are often subject to fluctuations. When paper prices are low, scavengers only earn more than ten yuan for a day of hard work. (Profile picture / Photo by Gong Jiasheng)
A minimum of 0.7 yuan per kilogram of waste paper will be adjusted after half a year
The Environmental Protection Department provides three tonnage groups for bidders to choose from, namely 1,000 to 3,000 tons, 3,000 to 5,000 tons, and 5,000 to 9,000 tons. The last 11 contractors choose the first group, and the other two groups respectively. There are 2 and 4 contractors to choose from.
The contract requires the contractor and the recycling shops under the collection network to provide economic incentives during the service period (then the minimum recycling price per kilogram of waste paper for the first six months is 0.7 yuan, and the actual waste paper export price in the market every three months thereafter Adjustment), the front-line recyclers purchase waste paper that is not wetted by water, and is not polluted by other impurities and waste. The Environmental Protection Department expects that the relevant contract can encourage clean recycling, thereby enhancing the overall quality of waste paper in Hong Kong and its competitiveness in the market.
The contractor must collect and resell the export waste paper according to the requirements of the tonnage group in the contract. If the contractor fails to meet the monthly minimum tonnage requirement in a certain month, the service fee for that month will be deducted by 10%. If it fails to meet the standard for three months, its service fee will be further deducted. The service contract also requires the contractor to install real-time monitoring equipment in its plant. The Department will also inspect the premises of the contractor and its contact partners from time to time. If it is confirmed that the contractor has not complied with the contract requirements to provide services, such as export failure For waste paper that meets the standards, the EPA will deduct the contractor’s service fee according to the contract terms, and serious breaches of the contract will even result in the termination of the contract.
The Mainland will completely ban the import of waste paper and other solid waste from next year
Following the implementation of the Mainland’s tightening of imports of 24 types of recycled products commonly known as "24 flavors", the quota for waste paper import approvals has been greatly reduced. From next year, the Mainland will further ban the import of solid waste. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment will no longer accept and approve applications for the import of solid waste.
The Environmental Protection Agency updated the waste paper import and export control guidelines at the end of last month, pointing out that neighboring countries (such as Indonesia and Malaysia) have gradually tightened all types of waste paper import controls. Mainland China has also announced that it will basically achieve zero solid waste imports by the end of this year. The entry of foreign waste (including all waste paper) is prohibited, so Hong Kong must strengthen the re-export of waste paper and export control arrangements.
There is less than half a year left to prohibit the import of waste paper from the Mainland. The Environmental Protection Department still maintains its reply to the media last year, stating that it will "reflect the state of the local recycling market and the various opinions of the recycling industry to the country, including in the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Plan" Let’s discuss how to bring new opportunities to Hong Kong’s resource recycling."
From next year, the Mainland will more comprehensively ban the import of solid waste, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will no longer accept and approve applications related to the import of solid waste. (Photo/Photo by Li Zetong)
Circle Group: The Hong Kong Government intends to sign a bilateral agreement with the Mainland to export waste paper
Zhu Hanqiang, Director of Green Earth Environmental Initiative, said that the government's intervention in the recycling industry and the jobs of scavengers is a good thing, but when there are new policies, they should be publicized and provided with details as soon as possible to make stakeholders feel at ease.
From next year, local waste paper cannot be exported to the mainland according to the approved quota. By then, exporters may have to transfer to the Southeast Asia or Taiwan market, increasing transportation costs. According to Zhu Hanqiang's understanding, the government has set up a "exit mechanism". If the contractor thinks it is unprofitable, they can withdraw from the plan. In addition, the Hong Kong government has the opportunity to enter into a bilateral agreement with the Mainland at the end of the year to enable Hong Kong's waste paper to continue to be exported to the Mainland. Export supervision must be done well in advance to integrate with the mainland.
17 The contractor collects waste paper at a minimum price of 7 cents per kilogram to stabilize the income of scavengers. (Data Picture / Photo by Luo Junhao)
The EPA hires a contractor to collect waste paper at a price of $0.7 per kilogram, exporters earn less than scavengers
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Environmental Protection Department Recycling Yard
