Disposal licensing control, import and export control and disposal bans at designated waste disposal facilities of e-waste (abandoned regulated electrical equipment (REE) including waste air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, computers, printers, scanners and monitors) under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) has come into effect on 31 December 2018 (Monday). The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) issued two press releases on 3 December and 24 December 2018 to remind relevant practitioners in the recycling industry and second-hand shops to make preparations to avoid contravention of the law. Please click here for the full text of the press releases.

Starting from 31 December 2018, landfills and other designated waste disposal facilities (such as refuse transfer stations) no longer accept and handle e-waste. Unless with exemptions, any person who is engaged in the storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling (but not repair) of e-waste must obtain a waste disposal licence (e-WDL) issued by the EPD under the law. A permit issued by the EPD is also required for the import and export of e-waste.

As the recycling industry (including so-called "scrap dealers" or second-hand shops) might need to undertake certain small-scale or simple pre-treatment processes to help facilitate the reuse of electrical and electronic appliances, or assist licensed recyclers to treat e-waste, there are legal provisions to exempt the following operations from obtaining waste disposal licence:

(1) disposal of e-waste (that is not chemical waste) on land or premises with an area of not more than 100 m²;

(2) storage of e-waste with a total volume of not more than 50 m³; or

(3) storage of e-waste on premises located inside a multi-storey building.

The above operations must still abide by all other environmental legislation and other applicable legislation. The EPD will step up inspections and take enforcement actions against non-compliant operations. Under the WDO, any person involved in the disposal (including storage) of e-waste without a licence, or the import or export of e-waste without a permit, is liable to a fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment upon first conviction.

The EPD also appeals to those involved in the resale of second-hand REE to properly inspect and repair such appliances, and to ensure that they are operable and label them. Such appliances should also be properly packaged to avoid damage during storage or transportation. For details on how to distinguish between e-waste and second-hand REE, please click here for details.

For details of the relevant licensing and permit control, please click here. 

List of licensees for the treatment, reprocessing or recycling of e-waste (updated as at 31 December 2018)

Licensee	Address of Facility	Types of e-waste Covered
ALBA Integrated Waste Solutions (Hong Kong) Limited	Lots P2, P3 and P4 of EcoPark, 133 Lung Mun Road, Tuen Mun, N.T.	Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling: Air conditioner, Refrigerator, Washing machine, Television, Computer, Printer, Scanner, Monitor
Chiho Eco Protection Limited	G/F, 48 Wang Lok Street, Yuen Long Industrial Estate, Yuen Long, N.T.	Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling: Washing machine, Computer (desktop), Printer Storage only: Air conditioner, Refrigerator, Television, Computer (notebook and tablet), Scanner, Monitor
E.Tech Management (HK) Limited	EP11-01(5), EcoPark Phase 2, 133 Lung Mun Road, Tuen Mun, N.T.	Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling: Computer (desktop and tablet), Scanner, Printer Storage only: Air conditioner, Refrigerator, Washing machine, Television (flat-panel), Computer(notebook), Monitor (flat-panel)
Li Tong (H.K.) Telecom Company Limited	6th Floor, Block 2, Goodman Tuen Mun Distribution Centre, 3A Hung Cheung Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories	Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling: Television (flat-panel), Computer, Printer, Scanner, Monitor (flat-panel)
Tong Shing Technology Company	Unit 902, Block 3 Tin’s Centre, 3 Hung Cheung Road, Tuen Mun, N.T.	Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling: Computer (desktop)
Vannex International Limited	B1-B13, G/F, Jumbo Plaza, 6 Choi Fai Street, Sheung Shui, N.T.	Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling: Television (flat-panel display), Computer (desktop and notebook), Scanner, Printer, Monitor (flat-panel display) Storage only: Air conditioner, Refrigerator, Washing machine, Television (cathode-ray tube), Monitor (cathode-ray tube)
Wing Kai Destruction & Recycle Co.	No.6, Ping Fuk Lane, Ping Shan, Yuen Long, N.T.	Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling: Computer (desktop and notebook), Monitor (flat-panel)
H2O & Au Environmental Recycling Company Ltd.	Units 09-10, 2/F, Lai Sun Yuen Long Centre, Yuen Long, N.T.	Storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling: Computer (desktop)

Note: Under section 41(5) of the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603), the recycler under a removal service plan must hold a waste disposal licence under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354) that authorises the person to treat, reprocess or recycle (excluding storage or repair) e-waste.