The Hong Kong government will begin charging residents for rubbish disposal in April next year, months later than planned, according to local media reports citing sources.

The waste charging scheme was approved by the legislature in August 2021. Authorities said at the time that 18 months would be needed to allow the government and industries to prepare for the scheme, which was supposed to be implemented at the end of this year.

However, local media reports citing sources said the implementation had been postponed to April 1 next year. The implementation date will be announced next Friday at the Panel on Environmental Affairs in the Legislative Council.

HKFP has reached out to the Environmental Protection Department for comment.