Impact Assessment of Beverage Container Return Scheme on Waste and Litter Reduction and Publication of Scheme's Effectiveness on Broader Environmental Impacts

Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether the Ministry has assessed whether the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) has reduced beverage containers disposed of as waste or litter; (b) if so, what are the preliminary findings; and (c) whether the Ministry will publish periodic assessments of the scheme's environmental impact beyond the number of containers returned.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: During the first five months of the scheme, the Return Right Beverage Container Return Scheme has collected over 20 million beverage containers. We are encouraged to see that the number of containers collected is increasing steadily as we move towards the end of the transition period. These containers have been diverted away from disposal, and we will continue to monitor the overall effectiveness of the scheme.

The Ministry will continue to publish periodic updates on the scheme's progress. Updates will cover the number of containers returned and total material recovered. These will provide an indication of the environmental impact of the scheme.