Hong Kong is facing a plastic waste crisis, with 97% of rubbish in two of its rivers being plastic packaging from major drinks businesses. Greenpeace Hong Kong urges the government to hold producers of single-use plastics accountable to reduce waste effectively.
Food packaging, drinks containers, and shipping packaging are the main culprits, making up 70% of plastic waste. Greenpeace campaigner Leanne Tam Wing-lam criticizes the focus on end-of-life recycling and incinerators, calling for regulation of corporate plastic production.
The government is urged to set specific targets for plastic reduction and recycling, aligning with a producer responsibility scheme to be implemented next year. Greenpeace’s findings highlight the prevalence of polythene and polypropylene in local water bodies and wildlife faeces.