Property Management Services Authority Appeals for
Property Management Industry to Sign
the Environmental Protection Department’s “Waste Reduction and Recycling Charter” for Promoting Recycling and Waste Reduction
The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) issued a letter today (11 June) to over 780 licensed property management companies (PMCs) in Hong Kong to owners’ corporation/owners’ committee/residents’ organisation of residential properties managed by them to sign the “Waste Reduction and Recycling Charter” (the Charter) launched by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on 1 June 2024 with a view to enhancing residents’ awareness about waste reduction and recycling.
Dr James Wong, Chairperson of the PMSA said in the PMSA blog published today, “Waste issue must be properly handled to help sustain Hong Kong’s development. Encouraging the public to reduce waste at source and practice good recycling habits are key to resolving the issue at root. I strongly appeal for all licensed PMCs and property management (PM) practitioners to actively submit applications to sign the Charter for residential properties managed by them which meet the participation criteria so as to raise residents’ awareness about waste reduction and recycling as well as to enhance the overall recycling management performance, thereby driving the sustainable development of Hong Kong.”
Any PMC / owners’ corporation / residents’ organisation of private residential properties may sign up the Charter and make the following commitments:
• Provide at least one set of recycling bins as far as possible for each residential building near the entrance and exit of the building or at a convenient location for residents to practise recycling;
• Ensure each set of recycling bins must collect at least six types of recyclable materials, including paper, metal, plastic, glass containers, paper drink boxes and food waste (except for single-block buildings whereby installation of food waste recycling bins is not feasible due to limited common area);
• Arrange for reliable recyclers to properly handle various types of recyclables;
• Monitor service contractors' recycling quality;
• Keep recycling and transportation records for all types of recyclable materials;
• Carry out promotion and education work to encourage all residents to participate in waste classification and develop the habit of waste reduction and recycling; and
• Publish quarterly recycling data regularly in common areas of housing estates / buildings to ensure transparency.
PMCs may first consult property residents and with their support, submit application on behalf of the owners’ organisation / owners’ committee / residents’ organisation for signing the Charter for the property. The EPD will assess whether the properties meet the participation criteria after receiving the application and will provide suitable technical support to the properties if required. Properties which successfully sign the Charter by 30 November 2024 will receive 20 free designated bags per household per month for six months for distribution to residents for their use. In addition, PMCs participating in the Charter will receive certificate and sticker label from the EPD for display in properties, communication collaterals and digital platforms. The EPD will also publish on its website the list of participants for the Charter.
The application form and guideline have been uploaded onto the EPD webpage https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en-hk/waste-reduction-programme/waste-reduction-and-recycling-charter. For details, please call the EPD hotline 2838 3111 or email to recyclingcharter@epd.gov.hk.
For PMSA Chairperson Dr James Wong’s appeal in the PMSA blog for the PM industry to sign the Charter, please visit https://www.pmsa.org.hk/tc/information-centre/blogs.
Ends, Tuesday, 11 June 2024
Issued at HKT 18:00
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