Environmental Protection Department (EPD)

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is the Hong Kong government agency responsible for environmental protection policies, waste management, and promoting sustainable development. Recent news highlights issues related to the EPD's oversight. One article points out significant gaps in the classification of waste sent to landfills, particularly paper and plastic, raising concerns that unclear data undermines Hong Kong's green initiatives. The EPD defends its waste-tracking system, stating changes are unnecessary. Separately, the EPD issued a suspension notice to a contractor at the government-run Y·Park recycling center after a worker suffered a severe injury while operating a wood-chipping machine. The EPD expressed serious concern about the incident. These events underscore the EPD's role in both environmental policy and the operational safety of government-contracted recycling facilities, highlighting challenges in data accuracy and workplace safety within Hong Kong's environmental sector.