Hong Kong to pulp all recovered waste paper locally from 1 October

Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department will process all locally recovered waste paper at a new facility at EcoPark, Tuen Mun, from 1 October 2026, ending the territory's reliance on paper waste exports. The facility, operating since 27 July 2026, widens accepted grades beyond cardboard, newspaper and office paper to mixed paper, and is expected to lift annual recovery volumes from over 500,000 to 720,000 tonnes.

Why this mattersA shift from exported to locally pulped recovered fibre changes the recycled-fibre supply chain that regional paperboard and fibre packaging producers depend on.

• The modernised pulping facility at EcoPark, Tuen Mun, began operating on 27 July 2026 and takes over all local waste paper processing from 1 October 2026
• Annual recovery volume is set to rise from over 500,000 tonnes to 720,000 tonnes
• Accepted recyclable paper grades widen from cardboard, newspaper and office paper to mixed paper including bags, packaging boxes and wrapping paper
• The Designated Purchasing Price paid to collectors has risen from USD 153 (HKD 1,200) per tonne in July 2026 to USD 165.16 (HKD 1,295.51) per tonne
• The facility recorded a single-day intake of 1,608 tonnes this month, 4% above last year's daily average
• The existing export-supporting collection contract will end, though recyclers may still arrange exports independently

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