April Fools No More. This City’s Going Green!

This transformational revolution is the real deal!

Jolly.Creator
Word Garden
2 min readJan 19, 2024

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I got something huge to share with you. Are you ready to enter today’s fascinating lesson?

Bzzz Come Join Me and Let’s Bee Green Together! By Jolly.Creator (Author)

Once upon a time, in one of Asia’s most vibrant urban centers, a groundbreaking waste charging scheme was set to transform the way people thought about (and tossed) trash. The goal was simple: curb landfill waste and promote recycling, one garbage bag at a time.

Curious to know which city holds this distinction?

It’s none other than the innovative and resilient Hong Kong.

Wait, what?

Fine, fine. I just got a little too ahead of time. But I kid you not. This is not an April Fool’s Day joke.

On April 1st, 2024, Hong Kong is taking a momentous step towards a greener future by introducing the mandatory use of designated, paid-for waste bags, as part of the city’s “waste charging scheme”.

This significant initiative not only marks a pivotal turning point in this iconic city’s battle against mounting waste, but it demonstrates its unwavering commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles, paving its way to a greener horizon.

Now, here’s what you need to know:

  1. When: April 1st, 2024 (this is not a joke — but a real call to action).
  2. What: prepaid, government-approved garbage bags in various sizes (starting at HK$0.30) available at HK’s favorite convenience stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies. The more waste you have, the bigger the bag, and the higher the cost (still a small price for a greener future).
  3. How: Recycling! Coming from Europe, I was so confused to not find appropriate bins in local families places. But with this initiative on, households can save some cash while being a recycling superhero! Separate recyclables like plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass. There are easy-to-find recycling bins across the city that make it a breeze to do your part!
  4. But…: Quid those bulky items that cannot fit in the bags? Fear not, HK got you covered too! Attach a designated label (HK$11) for instant bulky-item disposal.
  5. If not? A HK$1,500 fine might come your way. But don’t worry, HK’s forgiving. You get a 6-month grace period to adapt to the new system.

So, are you ready Hong Kong? Let’s be responsible together and score green wins, one bag (and one recycled bottle) at a time.

The new journey to a greener tomorrow for Hong Kong, start now! (I mean, April 1st, 2024, to be exact). Let’s make it epic!

Greenly Yours,

Your Jolly.Creator

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