Every day, an estimated 4 to 5.2 million PET beverage bottles end up in Hong Kong’s landfills. Despite high consumption, our overall recycling rate remains low at around 25%, compared to over 75% in developed regions with mature recovery schemes.

Due to a lack of economic incentives and policy. Specifically, the absence of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) charging gives consumers no incentive to separate waste, while the delay in legislating the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PCPRS) means manufacturers bear no end-of-life responsibility. This leaves the recycling chain starved of stable funding.

Legislation is expected to be approved by LegCo by mid-2027 and implemented in 2028. The ultimate goal is to raise the recycling rate of plastic bottles and beverage cartons to over 75%.

It will fundamentally secure a stable, large-scale supply of high-purity, post-consumer bottles through rebate-driven incentives. This will dramatically lower upstream sorting costs and transform New Life Plastics’ raw material supply.

Current Status and Regulatory Background of Plastic Bottle Recycling in Hong Kong

Currently, up to 1,200 tonnes per month, which is enough to process over 50% of bottles consumed in Hong Kong. Given Hong Kong’s current overall recycling rate, we possess ample spare capacity and stand fully prepared to accommodate future growth in recycling volumes.

New Life Plastics sources its PET beverage bottles from a wide and diverse network. This includes the government’s 120 Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) , the Environmental Protection Department’s ‘GREEN@COMMUNITY’ recycling network, and community-led recycling initiatives in Tin Shui Wai organized by NGOs. Additionally, we collect post-consumer bottles from commercial and aviation channels, such as major local beverage producers, Hong Kong International Airport, and Cathay Pacific flights.

Traditional downcycling only repurposes plastic waste into secondary products like strapping bands, toys, or synthetic fibers, which still inevitably end up in landfills. To break this cycle, New Life Plastics champions ‘bottle-to-bottle’ recycling. We process post-consumer beverage bottles back into a high-quality flake that can be made into new bottles, extending the plastic lifecycle to realise a genuine closed-loop system that prevents plastic waste from going to landfill.

Locally produced Coca-Cola® (500ml) and bonaqua® mineral water (1.5L or below) bottles are now manufactured using 100% locally recycled PET (rPET), from bottles that have been collected in Hong Kong and processed at New Life Plastics.

New Life Plastics Positioning, Capacity & Supply Chain

Plant Process & Technology

Our facility is equipped with advanced optical sorters that use near-infrared (NIR) and visible light scanning to instantly identify plastics by polymer type (PET, HDPE, PP, or others) and colour. Computer-controlled high-pressure air jets then precisely blast the target materials into designated collection bins, delivering a highly efficient, high-purity automated sorting process.

To perform a final quality check and remove any impurities that the machines may have missed. Experienced operators perform visual inspections to remove any contaminants undetected by optical sorters, ensuring that the material entering the washing phase meets New Life Plastics’ high purity standards.

Caps & Bottles: Separated in water (sink-float process) — PET sinks, while HDPE/PP caps float.
Labels: Physically stripped by a de-labeller and blown away by air. Some remaining label flakes are removed by optical flake sorters.

Coloured PET contains pigments that discolour clear PET, making it yellow or hazy. This fails the strict clarity standards required for food-grade packaging.

Flakes are washed at 80–90°C with detergent, defoamer, and caustic soda to dissolve stubborn glues and remove residues. The wash water is filtered and recycled in a recirculation system, ensuring material cleanliness while achieving sustainable water conservation.

As Hong Kong’s first food-grade ready plastics recycling facility, New Life Plastics is redefining what recycling can achieve in Hong Kong. We are moving beyond the limits of traditional downcycling to make a local ‘bottle-to-bottle’ closed-loop a reality. With our large capacity, we stand as a key partner in supporting the Government’s upcoming Producer Responsibility Scheme. Crucially, our collaboration—bringing together beverage leaders, recovery networks, and recycling experts—shows what is possible when we work together, guiding Hong Kong toward a more sustainable, carbon-neutral future.

Bookings are now open on our website, which also offers an online virtual tour service. Please click here to register.

FAQ

Current Status and Regulatory Background of Plastic Bottle Recycling in Hong Kong

Every day, an estimated 4 to 5.2 million PET beverage bottles end up in Hong Kong’s landfills. Despite high consumption, our overall recycling rate remains low at around 25%, compared to over 75% in developed regions with mature recovery schemes.

Due to a lack of economic incentives and policy. Specifically, the absence of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) charging gives consumers no incentive to separate waste, while the delay in legislating the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PCPRS) means manufacturers bear no end-of-life responsibility. This leaves the recycling chain starved of stable funding.

Legislation is expected to be approved by LegCo by mid-2027 and implemented in 2028. The ultimate goal is to raise the recycling rate of plastic bottles and beverage cartons to over 75%.

It will fundamentally secure a stable, large-scale supply of high-purity, post-consumer bottles through rebate-driven incentives. This will dramatically lower upstream sorting costs and transform New Life Plastics’ raw material supply.

New Life Plastics Positioning, Capacity & Supply Chain

Currently, up to 1,200 tonnes per month, which is enough to process over 50% of bottles consumed in Hong Kong. Given Hong Kong’s current overall recycling rate, we possess ample spare capacity and stand fully prepared to accommodate future growth in recycling volumes.

New Life Plastics sources its PET beverage bottles from a wide and diverse network. This includes the government’s 120 Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) , the Environmental Protection Department’s ‘GREEN@COMMUNITY’ recycling network, and community-led recycling initiatives in Tin Shui Wai organized by NGOs. Additionally, we collect post-consumer bottles from commercial and aviation channels, such as major local beverage producers, Hong Kong International Airport, and Cathay Pacific flights.

Traditional downcycling only repurposes plastic waste into secondary products like strapping bands, toys, or synthetic fibers, which still inevitably end up in landfills. To break this cycle, New Life Plastics champions ‘bottle-to-bottle’ recycling. We process post-consumer beverage bottles back into a high-quality flake that can be made into new bottles, extending the plastic lifecycle to realise a genuine closed-loop system that prevents plastic waste from going to landfill.

Locally produced Coca-Cola® (500ml) and bonaqua® mineral water (1.5L or below) bottles are now manufactured using 100% locally recycled PET (rPET), from bottles that have been collected in Hong Kong and processed at New Life Plastics.

Plant Process & Technology

Our facility is equipped with advanced optical sorters that use near-infrared (NIR) and visible light scanning to instantly identify plastics by polymer type (PET, HDPE, PP, or others) and colour. Computer-controlled high-pressure air jets then precisely blast the target materials into designated collection bins, delivering a highly efficient, high-purity automated sorting process.

To perform a final quality check and remove any impurities that the machines may have missed. Experienced operators perform visual inspections to remove any contaminants undetected by optical sorters, ensuring that the material entering the washing phase meets New Life Plastics’ high purity standards.

Caps & Bottles: Separated in water (sink-float process) — PET sinks, while HDPE/PP caps float.
Labels: Physically stripped by a de-labeller and blown away by air. Some remaining label flakes are removed by optical flake sorters.

Coloured PET contains pigments that discolour clear PET, making it yellow or hazy. This fails the strict clarity standards required for food-grade packaging.

Flakes are washed at 80–90°C with detergent, defoamer, and caustic soda to dissolve stubborn glues and remove residues. The wash water is filtered and recycled in a recirculation system, ensuring material cleanliness while achieving sustainable water conservation.

As Hong Kong’s first food-grade ready plastics recycling facility, New Life Plastics is redefining what recycling can achieve in Hong Kong. We are moving beyond the limits of traditional downcycling to make a local ‘bottle-to-bottle’ closed-loop a reality. With our large capacity, we stand as a key partner in supporting the Government’s upcoming Producer Responsibility Scheme. Crucially, our collaboration—bringing together beverage leaders, recovery networks, and recycling experts—shows what is possible when we work together, guiding Hong Kong toward a more sustainable, carbon-neutral future.

Bookings are now open on our website, which also offers an online virtual tour service. Please click here to register.