According to the scheme, the Environmental Protection Department will start accepting registration of suppliers and applications for exemptions and container waste disposal licenses on February 1, 2023, and fully implement the waste charging scheme on May 1, 2023.

Starting from May 1, 2023, any person who distributes glass-bottled beverages in Hong Kong must register with the department as a registered supplier.

A registered supplier must fulfill its statutory obligations, including submission of returns, keeping records relating to the returns, payment of container recycling levies, submission of annual audit reports, and so on.

Starting from the same day, any person who stores, treats, reprocesses, or recycles glass container waste must obtain a waste disposal license, and any person who imports or exports such waste must obtain a relevant permit.

A government spokesperson said a briefing will be held in the first quarter of 2023 to help glass bottle suppliers in the city understand the mechanism of the scheme and will provide assistance with the registration.