Hong Kong residents can soon expect to pay about HK$30 to HK$50 a month for throwing away their rubbish.
The Environment Bureau said on Monday that from 2019, households will have to purchase designated rubbish bags, which will come in nine different sizes ranging from three to 100 litres.
The per-litre charge for the designated bags will be set at $0.11. So for example, if a household uses a 15-litre bag each day they will have to pay about HK$51 a month in total.
The bags will be sold in supermarkets, convenience stores and post offices.
The plan is expected to be put to the Legislative Council in the next few months, but the city will be given 12 to 18 months to prepare before the measure is brought in.
At the same time, authorities will also start removing outdoor bins from the territory's streets, while adding more recycling containers.
Environment Secretary Wong Kam-sing said the price set for the bags is similar to Taipei and Seoul and the goal was not to increase government revenue, but to reduce waste generation.
Authorities are also planning to rigorously enforce the new bag system, with Food and Environmental Hygiene Department staff conducting spot checks on rubbish trucks and at refuse collection points. Offenders will be fined HK$1,500 and could face prosecution.