E-waste Collection

Overview

The Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WPRS) covering the eight types of regulated electrical equipment (REE) (including air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, computers, printers, scanners and monitors) came into effect in 2018 and marks another important milestone in Hong Kong's waste reduction and recycling efforts. Through the WPRS, relevant waste electrical and electronic equipment must be directed to licensed recycling facilities for proper treatment and recycling, turning waste into resources, thus offering a long term solution to potential land contamination and environmental problems arising from mishandling during transfer, storage and dismantling processes.

To underpin the WPRS, a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment and Recycling Facility (WEEE·PARK) developed by the Government has commenced its operation since October 2017. The annual design processing capacity of WEEE·PARK is 30,000 tonnes of regulated WEEE, which adopts advanced technologies to turn regulated WEEE into valuable secondary raw materials through a series of detoxification, dismantling and recycling processes. Please click here for details.

Statutory Free Removal Service

The WPRS provides a convenient recycling channel for the proper collection of used equipment requiring disposal. Upon purchase of a new REE item, members of the public are entitled to a statutory free removal service arranged by the seller to collect a used item of the same class. For details, please contact REE sellers.

Collection Hotline (2676 8888) / WhatsApp (6081 5096)

Apart from the statutory free removal service, the Government also introduced a new and free collection service. Members of the public not purchasing a new REE item can make an appointment with the operator for the Government for a free collection service through the recycling hotline 2676 8888 or through WhatsApp (6081 5096). This service will not only promote recycling, but it will also save members of the public the burden of disposing the used REE on their own or at a cost.

GREEN‌@COMMUNITY

All GREEN‌@COMMUNITY accept waste electrical and electronic equipment for which will be transferred to suitable recyclers for handling. Please click here for details of the GREEN‌@COMMUNITY.

Donation Service

WEEE·PARK refurbishes some serviceable electrical appliances for donation to people in need for reuse, promoting a loving and caring community while going green. Refurbished appliances available for donation include refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and televisions. Application should be made through referral by registered social worker. Please click here for application details.

 

Past Programmes

Introduction

Over the years, EPD had held various Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) collection or recycling programmes to encourage e-waste reduction at source, and enhance reuse and recovery of resources. Also, EPD have accumulated practical experiences through various WEEE collection or recycling programmes for preparation of WPRS. Following the full implementation of WPRS in 2018, as well as the commencement of operation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Treatment and Recycling Facility (WEEE·PARK), which was developed to underpin the WPRS, in October 2017, the following WEEE collection or recycling programmes concluded successfully.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recycling Programme

In January 2003, EPD commissioned Caritas Hong Kong and St James' Settlement to launch territory-wide pilot programmes on the collection and recycling of WEEE respectively. The pilot programmes were well received by the public and more than 40,000 waste computers and electrical and electronic units were recovered and processed each year. The electrical and electronic units collected which were in working order had been handed over to designated charitable organizations for refurbishment and donation to the needy, while the malfunctioning units were dismantled by the appointed recyclers to recover the useful parts and materials.

EPD set up a regional collection centre for electrical and electronic appliances at the Kowloon Bay Waste Recycling Centre (formerly Kowloon Bay Transfer Station) in the fourth quarter of 2005 to facilitate the overall source separating and recycling programme at that time. Consequently, the recycling process was relocated to the Kowloon Bay Waste Recycling Centre starting in 2005.

In October 2010, St James' Settlement was granted funding support from the Environment and Conservation Fund to implement the WEEE GO GREEN programme to enhance the service and moved from the Kowloon Bay Waste Recycling Centre to a larger recycling workshop at the EcoPark WEEE Recycling Centre. This programme focused on recycling major designated items, including television sets, refrigerators, washing machines, video or audio equipment, microwave ovens, fans, water heaters, rice cookers, air-conditioners, heaters, electronic games and mobile phones. Other general home electrical appliances were also collected to recycle. By the time the programme ended in October 2016, the different types of WEEE collected through the WEEE GO GREEN programme amounted to about 1,600 tonnes in total, all of which have been refurbished and donated, reused or dismantled and recycled. It is estimated that the programme had donated over 25,000 pieces of refurbished equipment to some 7,800 needy families.

On the other hand, the pilot programme run by Caritas Hong Kong was well-received by the public and nearly 150,000 waste computers and computer accessories were recovered and processed. This pilot programme ended in December 2017 and was served as the basis for the Computer Recycling Programme, which was launched in January 2008 and later on renamed as Computer & Communication Products Recycling Programme in October 2015, and extended further to cover the general communication products.

Schools Recycle WEEE

In new school year, many students and schools will replace their computer equipment as required. To facilitate proper recycling of the retired equipment and to promote the culture of “Use Less, Waste Less”, EPD organised in 2013 the “WEEE Recycle at Schools” programme for three consecutive years, inviting all primary and secondary schools to join. The service has been taken over by WEEE·PARK operator or other contractors gradually since 2016.

Chinese New Year WEEE Recycling Collection Service

EPD had been organizing the Chinese New Year WEEE Recycling Collection Service for 10 consecutive years between 2007 and 2017 to help the local communities to properly recycle their WEEE, computers, rechargeable batteries, fluorescent lamps and tubes intended for disposal. The collected items were repaired and refurbished by recognised recycling programmes and then donated to the needy. Some items would be dismantled so that reusable components and materials can be recovered. The recycling organization includes St James' Settlement, Caritas Hong Kong, Hong Kong WEEE Recycling Association, Community Green Stations, and WEEE·PARK.

E-waste Collection Vehicle

The e-waste collection vehicle completed its services on 19 December 2021. The vehicle stationed in 18 districts at Saturdays and Sundays on a roster basis to collect e-waste from the public. There were also collection station, education and publicity activities to introduce the importance of proper e-waste recycling. Please click here to read the past collection service schedule in 2021.

 

Press Releases

Progressive implementation of producer responsibility scheme to boost e-waste recycling (2016.08.04)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201608/04/P2016080400285.htm

EPD recovers 75 tonnes of used computers and electrical appliances in schools (2015.11.29)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201511/29/P201511270734.htm

Schools Recycle WEEE programme invites enrolment (2015.09.03)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201509/03/P201509020861.htm

EPD prepares for implementation of Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (2015.03.01)
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201503/01/P201502270900.htm

600 housing estates join year-end WEEE recycling programme to help residents go green (2015.01.25)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201501/25/P201501230875.htm

Joint efforts of EPD and schools promote proper WEEE recycling at schools (2014.11.16)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201411/16/P201411140845.htm

Year-end recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment helps people in need (2014.02.04)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201402/04/P201401300527.htm

More than 5500 pieces of waste electrical and electronic equipment collected in ""Schools Recycle WEEE"" programme (2013.11.10)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201311/10/P201311080601.htm

EPD and schools collaborate in recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (2013.10.13)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201310/13/P201310110520.htm

SEN and LegCo Members visit local waste management facilities (2013.05.11)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201305/11/P201305110531.htm

Electrical appliances re-energised (2013.02.17)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201302/17/P201302150452.htm

Year-end recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment to help families in need (2013.01.29)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201301/29/P201301290470.htm

SEN inspects EcoPark's waste recycling facilities in Tuen Mun (2012.08.29)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201208/29/P201208290576.htm

EPD organises lunar year-end recycling campaign for used computers and home appliances (2011.01.27)
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201101/27/P201101260272.htm