Tender For Designated Garbage Bags Draws 45 Bids

The Environmental Protection Department said it has received 45 bids for a contract to manufacture garbage bags for use under its pay-as-you-throw waste charging scheme.

In response to an RTHK query, the department said assessing the bids will take two or three months, after the tender closed earlier this month.

"We will complete the tender evaluation procedure and award a contract as soon as possible, as well as announce such information in due course," it said.

Under the waste charging scheme, which will take effect later this year, people will have to buy designated bags for their rubbish.

Authorities have scrapped a requirement for the contractor to manufacture the bags in Hong Kong in this second tendering exercise, after bids were called off last year because they were deemed too expensive.

The successful bidder will also be allowed to reduce the recycled plastic content in the garbage bags from 50 to 20 percent.