7.1.1
This Section identifies the wastes arising from the demolition of the
Existing Crematorium as well as the construction and operation of the New
Crematorium at Diamond Hill and assesses the potential environmental impacts
associated with the handling and disposal of waste. Where appropriate, procedures for waste reduction and
management are considered and environmental control measures for avoiding and
minimizing the potential impacts are recommended.
7.2.1
The potential environmental impacts
associated with the handling and disposal of waste arising from this Project
have been assessed in accordance with the criteria given in Annexes 7 and 15 of the EIAO TM, and
are summarized as follows:
·
Estimation
of the types and quantities of the waste generated and identification of the
disposal options for each type of waste
·
Assessment
of secondary environmental impacts due to the management of waste with respect
to potential hazards, air and odour emissions, transportation and wastewater
discharges
·
Assessment
of the potential impacts on the capacity of waste collection, transfer and
disposal facilities
7.3.1
Based on the tentative construction
and demolition programme, the construction and demolition activities will be
divided into two phases: Phase I – from September 2004 to February 2006 and
Phase II –from October 2006 to November 2007. To handle the cremation demand, operation of the Existing
Crematorium will be maintained until full operation of the new cremators and
other main facilities to be provided under Phase I of the Project. Facilities to be constructed /
demolished under each phase are given below:
Phase I
Ÿ
Demolition
of facilities in Existing Crematorium in the southern side of the Project site,
including
Ÿ
Existing
sitting out area
Ÿ
Garden
of remembrance
Ÿ
Existing building structure, including
CLP secondary substation, toilets, pavilion and retaining walls
·
Construction
of the New Crematorium main facilities, including:
Ÿ
One
(1) cremator plant room housing six (6) cremators
Ÿ
Three
(3) fuel tanks (with total capacity of 34,000 L)
Ÿ
Two
(2) service halls
Ÿ
One
(1) pulverizing room
Ÿ
One
(1) mortuary
Ÿ
One
(1) office
Ÿ
Toilets
for public
Ÿ
Ancillary
service rooms including battery fork lift, transformer and switch room,
emergency generator room and joss burners
Ÿ
Two
(2) automatic transportation systems for coffins and part of an underground
service tunnel for coffin circulation
Ÿ
Vehicular
loading bay for coffin van and coach
Ÿ
Landscape
area
Ÿ
Dangerous
goods store
Ÿ
Installation
of temporary CLP electricity transformer at Phase II boundary
Phase II
·
Demolition
of the Existing Crematorium main facilities, including:
Ÿ
Two
(2) service halls
Ÿ
One (1)
cremation room with six (6) cremators
Ÿ
One
(1) transformer room
Ÿ
One
(1) underground oil fuel storage tank (9,092 L)
Ÿ
One
(1) mortuary
Ÿ
One
(1) machine room
Ÿ
One
(1) general store plus water tank
Ÿ
One
(1) dangerous goods store
Ÿ
One
(1) chimney (approximately 10 m in height)
·
Construction
of the rest of the New Crematorium, including:
Ÿ
Two
(2) service halls
Ÿ
Two
(2) automatic transportation systems for coffins and part of an underground
service tunnel for coffin circulation
Ÿ
Vehicular
loading bay for coffin van and coach
Ÿ
Landscape
area
7.3.2
The columbarium next to the Project
site will remain untouched.
7.3.3
Activities conducted during Phase I
and Phase II will result in generation of the following types of waste:
·
Excavated
materials
·
Construction
and demolition (C&D) materials
·
Contaminated
materials (including: ash waste, building structures and soil contaminated by
asbestos, dioxin, heavy metals, hydrocarbons or polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCB))
·
Chemical
waste
·
General
refuse
7.3.4
No additional environmental impact
related to waste management is envisaged during transitional stage between the
operation of Existing Crematorium and commissioning of New Crematorium.
7.3.5
If not properly managed, the handling
and disposal of these wastes may cause environmental impact and nuisance. The nature of each type of waste is
discussed in Section 7.5 together
with an evaluation of the potential environmental impacts associated with these
waste types.
7.4.1
During operation phase of the New
Crematorium, the following key types of waste are expected:
·
Ash and non-combustible residues
generated from cremators during combustion
·
Chemical waste generated from the air
pollution control system, machinery maintenance and servicing
·
General refuse generated by visitors
and staff during daily operation
7.4.2
Since the tendering process for the
air pollution control system in the New Crematorium is yet to commence, the
exact type and design of the system to be employed can not be confirmed at this
stage. Nevertheless, based on
experience of other similar projects, ‘dry’ type air pollution control system
will be adopted. There will,
therefore, be no liquid effluent from the air pollution control system.
7.4.3
To estimate the likely types and quantities
of wastes generated from the ‘dry’ air pollution control system, new cremators
with air pollution control system using ‘dry’ process should therefore be
referenced. With this in mind, references
have been made to the Fu Shan Crematorium for the purpose of assessing the
chemical waste arising from the air pollution control system.
7.4.4
Based on the information provided
in the Replacement of Cremators at Fu Shan Crematorium EIA Report
(EIA-063/2001), the major types of chemical wastes generated from the air
pollution control system of the New Crematorium will include (i) activated
carbon and un-reacted lime used for flue gas treatment; and (ii) particulate
matter collected from dust removal facilities. Environmental impacts and nuisance may arise if these wastes
are not properly managed. The relevant
quantity estimation and evaluation of potential impacts of the wastes are
discussed in Section 7.6.
Excavated Materials
7.5.1
Demolition of the Existing Crematorium
and site formation for the New Crematorium will require slope excavation and
fill material. A small amount of
excavated material will also be generated during construction of building
foundations. Therefore, the
majority of the excavated materials are expected to be generated during the
Phase I construction and demolition works (from September 2004 to February
2006). According to the
information provided by Architectural Services Department (Arch SD), approximately
12,300 m3 (10,300 m3 from geotechnical works and 2,000 m3
for foundation works) of excavated materials will be generated during the
construction and demolition works.
7.5.2
The fill requirement for site
formation is approximately 10,200 m3, according to Arch SD, and
provides a good opportunity to utilize the excavated materials generated
on-site. The design of the site
formation of this Project should ensure a cut and fill balance as far as
practical. The excavated materials
will consist of clean rock and soil, which could be reused on-site. Approximately 2,100 m3 of
surplus excavated materials will be generated from the construction and
demolition works and they should be used for landscaping works in the New
Crematorium, as far as practicable. in order to minimize the need for any
off-site disposal of excavated materials.
7.5.3
Therefore, with careful planning for
reusing excavated materials on-site, the secondary environmental impacts and
potential impacts on waste handling capacity of excavated materials is expected
to be minimal.
Construction and Demolition
Materials
7.5.4
Construction and demolition (C&D)
materials generated from the construction and demolition works will mainly
comprise unwanted materials, including:
Ÿ
Existing
Crematorium structures (e.g. concrete, steel, glass, bricks, wood, plastics,
etc.)
Ÿ
Wood
from formwork and falsework
Ÿ
Materials
and equipment wrappings
Ÿ
Unusable/surplus
concrete/grouting mixes
Ÿ
Damaged
construction materials
7.5.5
The above C&D materials of the
Project will be generated during both Phase I and Phase II periods.
7.5.6
According to the architectural
drawings and information provided by Arch SD, the gross floor area (GFA) of the
Existing Crematorium and New Crematorium are approximately 1,300 m2
and 2,100 m2 respectively.
Based on the generation rate of 0.1 m3 per 1 m2 of
GFA,
the estimated quantity of C&D materials to be produced from the
construction and demolition works will be approximately 340 m3,
which may vary depending on the exact types of the buildings and the construction
and demolition methods adopted. A
more detailed account of C&D material to be generated will be provided in
the Waste Management Plan to be prepared by the contractor.
7.5.7
The C&D materials can be divided
into two portions: (i) inert portion such as rock and concrete (i.e. public
fill), which can be used as fill material for reclamation and earth filling
projects; and (ii) non-inert portion such as timber, glass, plastics (i.e.
C&D waste), which can be recycled before disposal at landfills. It is estimated that around 80%
of the C&D material generated (i.e. 272 m3) will be categorized
as public fill and the remaining 20% (i.e. 68 m3) will be
categorized as C&D waste.
7.5.8
The C&D materials can be minimized
with careful planning during the detailed design stage as well as during
construction and demolition works.
For example, the contractor should use reusable non-timber formwork and
temporary works wherever practicable.
In addition, the contractor should, as far as possible, carry out
on-site sorting of public fill from C&D materials and reuse public fill in
this Project, before disposal at public filling areas. The C&D waste generated in this
Project should also be reused or recycled as much as possible before disposal
at landfill.
7.5.9
With reuse of the public fill on-site
as well as reuse and recycling of the C&D waste, the surplus public fill
and C&D waste requiring disposal is expected to be small and hence the extra
loading on public filling areas and landfills will be minimal. For similar reasons, the potential
impacts from transportation of the surplus public fill and C&D waste by
road, such as noise impact, possible congestion due to increased traffic flows,
and dust and exhaust emissions from haul vehicles, will not be significant. Provided that waste management
practices as detailed in Section 7.7
are properly implemented, the secondary environmental impacts arising from
on-site handling of the C&D materials would be minimal.
Contaminated Materials
7.5.10
Contaminated materials are expected to
be mainly generated during demolition of the Existing Crematorium during Phases
I and II. The key types of such contaminated
materials will include:
·
Asbestos containing materials (ACM) –
likely from building structures
·
Dioxin containing materials (DCM) –
likely from ash wastes and from contaminated soil
·
Heavy metal containing materials
(HMCM) whose heavy metal content(s) exceed the ‘Dutch B’ level as quoted in the
Practice Note for Professional Persons
(ProPECC) Note PN 3/94, “Contaminated Land Assessment and Remediation” –
likely from ash waste and from contaminated soil
·
Hydrocarbons containing materials –
polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) likely from ash waste; PAHs and total
petroleum hydrocarbon (diesel range) (TPH) likely from contaminated soil
·
Polychlorinated biphenyls containing
materials (PCBCM) – likely from contaminated soil around CLP secondary
substation
7.5.11
All of the above contaminated
materials are classified as chemical waste under the Part A of Schedule 1
under the Waste Disposal (Chemical
Waste)(General) Regulation.
Prior to disposal of these types of waste, EPD must be notified.
7.5.12
The contaminated materials are
expected to be concentrated around cremators /flues /chimney. The Consultants have tried to conduct sampling around
these areas, however, the cremators and the flange of the chimney could not be
accessed because the Existing Crematorium is still in operation and the lowest
temperature inside the cremators /flues /chimney is above 200oC,
even at 7 am in the morning when the cremators have been shut down since 6 pm
in the previous day. The
Consultants have explored several ways to conduct sampling and findings are
listed as follows:
Ÿ
Sampling during routine maintenance:
the Consultants contacted the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
(EMSD) to see if sampling during routine maintenance can be made. However, information from EMSD
indicates that the monthly routine maintenance of cremators does not require
shutting down of cremators
Ÿ
Sampling during annual servicing:
according to EMSD, the only time when cremators would be turned off is during
annual servicing, and the next opportunity is due at the end of 2003
Ÿ
Sampling by shutting down the whole
crematorium: according to FEHD, shutting down all the cremators at the Existing
Crematorium would severely affect the cremation services in the district
(please refer to Section 2.1 for
cremation demand in the district).
It is also estimated that a period of at least seven days would be
required to cool down the chimney to enable safe entry. Therefore the interruption of cremation
services due to sampling may last from 8 to 10 days
Ÿ
Sampling by shutting down one or two
cremators: the Consultants also investigated the possibility of shutting down
one or two cremators for sampling purpose. The cremators have to shut down in pairs and have to cool
down for at least three days before any person can enter for sampling (i.e.
each pair of cremators have to crease operation for at least 4 days). Therefore it may affect the cremation
services in the district (please see Section
2.1 for cremation demand in the district). In addition, sampling cannot be conducted for flues/ chimney
because the other cremators would still in operation
7.5.13
A land contamination site
investigation was carried out to assess disposal options for contaminated soil
(see Section 6 for details). However, no soil sample was taken
around CLP secondary substation as it is still operational.
7.5.14
Based on the above findings, further
site investigation after decommissioning of these facilities is recommended.
Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM)
7.5.15
An Asbestos investigation has been
carried out at readily accessible areas by a registered asbestos
consultant. ACM has been found in
the following facilities:
·
Cremator room (cloth insulation on chimney
duct) (Type 2 asbestos materials, according to Code of Practice on the Handling, Transportation and Disposal of
Asbestos Waste)
·
Machine room (gaskets on air burners
and fan ducts) (Type 2 asbestos materials)
·
Offices of the Existing Crematorium
(vinyl floor tile adhesive in offices and waiting rooms) (Type 1 asbestos
materials)
7.5.16
The overall hazard is considered to be
low due to good physical condition of the ACM. Details of the asbestos assessment are given in the Asbestos
Investigation Report attached in Appendix
D.
7.5.17
The quantity of ACM will be detailed
in the Asbestos Management Plan (AMP), which should be prepared prior to the
decommissioning work.
The AMP will also include the Asbestos Abatement Plan (AAP) prepared by
a registered asbestos consultant and submitted to EPD for approval under the
Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO).
The asbestos abatement work shall be carried out by a registered
asbestos contractor according to the future AMP.
7.5.18
When the handling, storage,
transportation and disposal of ACM are in line with the mitigation measures
provided in Section 7.7,
environmental impacts associated with ACM are expected to be minimal.
Dioxin Containing Materials (DCM) / Heavy Metal Containing Materials
(HMCM) / Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Containing Materials (PAHCM) from Demolition
of the Existing Crematorium
7.5.19
According to the information provided
by FEHD, the Existing Crematorium accepted amputated body parts from hospitals
from 1994 (around 2,000 kg/year) to 2001 (around 120 kg/year) and this
operation ceased in 2002. DCM /
HMCM / PAHCM may be found in ash waste and particulate matter within the
cremators, chimney walls, flues and surrounding areas of the Existing
Crematorium. Hence building
structures of cremators / flues/ chimney would also likely to be contaminated
by DCM / HMCM / PAHCM. However, it
is currently impossible to conduct inspection and sampling within the cremators,
chimney and flues to assess the levels of contamination due to the operational
constraints mentioned above. As
such, it is recommended that the contractor should collect samples from the
aforementioned potential areas of contamination for testing of dioxin, heavy
metals (the “Dutch List”) and PAH after decommissioning but prior to the
demolition of the Existing Crematorium.
7.5.20
There is no criterion in Hong Kong
regarding the dioxin level in DCM requiring special disposal. However, it is proposed to use the USEPA
criterion of 1 ppb TEQ (1 ng/g, Toxicity Equivalent Unit) as the assessment
criterion, above which special disposal option would be required. This criterion has been used as the
land contamination remediation target for residential sites in the USA. The criteria used for HMCM / PAHCM are the
Dutch “B” levels as quoted in the ProPECC PN3/94. If the dioxin level of DCM exceeds the 1 ppb TEQ criterion
or the levels of HMCM / PAHCM
exceed the Dutch “B” levels, the relevant measures as recommended in Section 7.7 should be implemented.
7.5.21 Although it is not possible to analyze the levels of the DCM / HMCM /
PAHCM at this stage, reference to demolition projects of similar nature (i.e.
ash waste requiring disposal) was made to provide an estimation of the potential
level of contamination. Two
documents identified are the Demolition
of Kwai Chung Incineration Plant EIA Report and the Project Profile for Decommissioning and Disposal of a Clinical Waste
Incinerator at Tang Siu Kin Hospital.
7.5.22
The dioxin level in ash waste and
quantity requiring remediation in the Kwai Chung Incineration Plant (KCIP) and
the Tang Siu Kin Hospital (TSKH) clinical waste incinerator were different, as
shown in Table 7.1.
Table 7.1 Level and Volume
of Contaminated Ash Waste in KCIP and TSKH Clinical Waste Incinerator
|
Project
|
Parameter Measured and Concentration
|
Volume Required Special Disposal
|
Location where Contaminated Ash was Found
|
|
KCIP
|
DCM: 3-22 ppb TEQ
HMCM: not measured
PAHCM:
not measured
|
Approximately 20m3
|
Near main hall ash bunker wall and main hall floors
|
|
TSKH Clinical Waste Incinerator
|
DCM: <0.1 ppb TEQ
HMCM: Copper exceeded the Dutch “B” List
PAHCM: Naphthalene exceeded the Dutch “B” List
|
Approximately
0.15m3
|
Bottom of the furnace
|
|
DCM: 7-13 ppb TEQ (samples usually found in the order of 10 ppb TEQ)
HMCM: not measured
PAHCM: not measured
|
Approximately
0.12 m3
|
In flues
|
7.5.23
Considering the nature of materials
for incineration, the KCIP was used to incinerate municipal solid waste,
whereas the TSKH clinical waste incinerator was used to treat waste from
laboratories, tissues or organs or other wastes from the operating theatre,
dressings with blood and unused drug waste. As such, it is expected that the dioxin level in the ash
waste in the Existing Crematorium would be similar to that in the TSKH clinical
waste incinerator (i.e. in the order of 10 ppb TEQ). In terms of the scale of operation, the Existing Crematorium
(with 10 m chimney) is much smaller than the KCIP (with 150 m chimney). Therefore, it is expected that the
amount of ash with DCM / HMCM / PAHCM in the Existing Crematorium, if any, would
be much less than that in the KCIP, i.e., much less than 20 m3.
7.5.24
It should, however, be noted that the
quantity and dioxin level of the ash waste in the Existing Crematorium as
mentioned above are only indicative estimates. The exact volume of contaminated ash waste (if any) and its
levels of contamination will only be determined upon completion of further sampling and testing of the ash
waste in the cremator/flue/chimney of the Existing Crematorium.
7.5.25
Based on the experience in KCIP and
TSKH, the level of DCM would be the main factor in determining ash waste
remediation requirements and disposal options. Details of the contamination classification, demolition,
handling, treatment and disposal methodologies for the Existing Crematorium are
given in Section 7.7.
7.5.26
Building structures where ash waste
with DCM / HMCM / PAHCM is located are also likely to be contaminated with
dioxin / heavy metals / PAHs, e.g. cremators, chimney, flues and surrounding
areas. For building structures where
ash waste is classified as moderately/severely contaminated, ash waste would be
required to be carefully removed from these building structures before disposal
at landfill. In particular,
building structures where severe DCM contaminated ash is found should be sealed
before disposal at landfill. More
importantly, these same building structures would also likely contain
asbestos. Subject to further
asbestos investigations, these multiple contaminated building structures would
require combined treatment and disposal methods for ACM/DCM/HMCM/PAHCM mentioned
in Section 7.7.
7.5.27
With appropriate handling, treatment
and disposal of contaminated ash waste and building structures, the associated
environmental impact is expected to be minimal.
Dioxin Containing Materials (DCM) /
Heavy Metal Containing Materials (HMCM) / Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Containing
Materials (PAHCM) / Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Containing Materials (TPHCM) /
Polychlorinated Biphenyls Containing Materials (PCBCM) from Soil Remediation at
the Project Site
7.5.28
As detailed in Section 6 and the CAR in Appendix C2, soil samples were collected
from within the site boundary for testing of dioxin, heavy metals, TPH and
PAH. According to the test
results, no exceedance of the assessment criteria was found in any of the soil
samples, except the two samples collected at sampling locations S3 and S5 that were
found to be contaminated with lead and tin. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) testing was
also carried out for the two samples and the testing results have confirmed
that the contaminated soil can be disposed of at landfill without any
pretreatment. It is estimated that
the amount of HMCM to be removed from the vicinity of these two locations would
be small (less than 100 m3). Details of the arrangement for disposal of this HMCM
are given in the RAP (Appendix C2).
7.5.29
Nevertheless, since the vicinity of
the CLP secondary substation could not be readily accessed at the moment,
further investigations of TPH and PCB should be carried out when decommissioned
during Phase I of the work. Such
recommendations have been included in the CAP and CAR/RAP (see Appendix C). For this, a sampling and
analysis plan will need to be prepared for approval by EPD. Subject to the results of additional
investigations, the need for any further remedial works, in addition to those
described in the current RAP (Appendix C2),
will be determined. In addition,
confirmatory testing on dioxin levels in locations S1 to S6 should be carried
out to determine further remediation if required.
Potential Hazards of ACM, DCM, HMCM, Hydrocarbon Containing
Materials and PCBCM
7.5.30
Mishandling of the ACM, DCM, HMCM, PAHCM, TPHCM and PCBCM may pose
toxic effects as well as health hazards to workers. It is considered that the possibilities for contact with
these contaminated materials would be relatively low, provided appropriate
precautionary measures are implemented.
Nevertheless, the ash waste must be cleaned up under modified
controlled/containment method prior to demolition, depending on its level of
contamination in cremators /flues /chimney. Possibilities for workers to contact contaminated soil can
be controlled by implementation of appropriate safety precautions recommended
in Section 7.7.
7.5.31
When the handling, storage,
transportation and disposal of materials contaminated with asbestos, dioxin,
heavy metals, hydrocarbon and PCB containing materials are in accordance with
the mitigation measures provided in Section
7.7, environmental impacts associated with these waste types are expected
to be minimal.
Chemical Wastes
7.5.32
Throughout the whole construction and
demolition works, construction plant and equipment will require regular
maintenance and servicing, which will generate chemical waste such as cleaning
fluids, solvents, lubrication oil and fuel. Maintenance for on-site equipment will also involve the use
of a variety of chemicals and lubricants, including heavy-duty cleaners,
organic solvents, degreasers, brake fluids, battery acid and soldering fluids.
7.5.33
Chemical waste may pose serious
environmental, health and safety hazards if not stored and disposed of in an
appropriate manner as outlined in the Waste
Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation and the Code of Practice on Packing, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes. These hazards may include:
·
Toxic
effects to workers
·
Adverse
effects on air, water and land from spills
·
Fire
hazards
7.5.34
The amount of chemical waste that will
arise from the construction activities will vary depending on the contractor’s
on-site maintenance requirements and the amount of plant utilized. It is anticipated that the quantity of
chemical waste, such as lubricating oil and solvent, produced from plant
maintenance will be relatively small.
If chemical waste generation is expected, the contractor must register
with the EPD as chemical waste producer.
These types of waste will be readily accepted for disposal at the
Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) at Tsing Yi. A detailed account of chemical waste generation should be
provided by the contractor during preparation of the site Waste Management
Plan.
7.5.35
Whenever possible, the contractor
should reuse or recycle chemical waste.
When chemical waste is properly managed in accordance with the relevant
mitigation and control measures in Section
7.7, the potential environmental impacts arising from the storage, handling
and disposal of a small amount of chemical waste generated from the
construction and demolition activities will be minimal.
General Refuse
7.5.36
Staff working at the construction site
will generate general refuse requiring disposal during Phases I and II
works. General refuse will mainly
consist of food wastes, aluminium cans, plastic bottles and waste paper. The storage of general refuse may give
rise to adverse environmental impacts.
These could include water quality (if waste enters nearby water bodies);
odour, (if waste is not collected frequently) and visual impact; and in the
form of windblown litter. The
Project site may also attract pests and vermin if the storage areas are not
well maintained and cleaned regularly.
In addition, disposal of waste at sites other than approved waste
transfer or disposal facilities can also have environmental impacts.
7.5.37
Based on the Consultants’ experience,
the amount of general refuse generated by the site workers during construction
and demolition activities will not be significant. If the refuse is stored and transported in accordance with
relevant good practices as specified in Section
7.7 and disposed of at licensed landfills, the potential environmental
impacts will be minimal.
Cumulative Impacts
7.5.38
According to the information provided
by Planning Department and Water Services Department and the KCRC Shatin to Central Link Project Profile
submitted under EIA Study Brief ESB-106/2002,
two other projects will be implemented during the construction and demolition
phase of this Project. They are
(i) The Diamond Hill No. 2 Freshwater Service Reservoir, which is scheduled
from 4 July 2002 to end of 2005, and (ii) the KCRC Shatin to Central Link,
which is undergoing preliminary feasibility study and the construction is
scheduled from 2004 to 2008.
7.5.39
Given the amounts of wastes requiring
disposal to be generated from this Project as reviewed above and with the
proper implementation of the mitigation measures as specified in Section 7.7, it is expected that the
contribution to cumulative impacts from this Project would not be significant
compared to other projects in the area.
Ash and Non-combustible Residues
7.6.1
After cremation, bone ash and
non-combustible residues remain. According
to FEHD, the weights of bone ash and non-combustible residues after each
cremation are about 2.2 kg and 1.8 kg respectively. Under current practice, bone ash is stored in covered
containers to be collected by the deceased’s relatives within 2 months. Based on the analytical results of
non-combustible residues (i.e. furnace bottom ash) in TSKH, which contain less
than 0.1 ppb TEQ of dioxin, the non-combustible residues in the New Crematorium
should be collected in polyethene bags and disposed of to landfill. This practice is expected to continue
for the New Crematorium. Under
full load operation, each of the 6 cremators can handle 6 cremations per day,
therefore the maximum generation of bone ash and non-combustible residues per
day are 79.2 kg (2.2 x 6 x 6) and 64.8 kg (1.8 x 6 x 6) respectively. Given the small quantity of waste
requiring disposal and with the appropriate waste management practices as
detailed in Section 7.8, the
associated environmental impacts are expected to be minimal.
Chemical
Waste
7.6.2
As discussed in Section 7.8, chemical wastes, including used activated carbon,
un-reacted lime and collected particulate matter would likely be generated by
the dry air pollution control system expected to be used at the New
Crematorium. The following
chemical waste generation rates as contained in the Replacement of Cremators at Fu Shan Crematorium EIA Report are used
for estimating the amounts of chemical wastes that would be produced by the air
pollution control system of the New Crematorium:
Ÿ
Used
activated carbon and un-reacted lime – 0.6 kg/hr
Ÿ
Collected
particulate matter – 0.95 kg/hr
7.6.3
Taking the cremation time of 100
minutes and 6 cremations per cremator per day for the 6 new cremators, it can
be calculated that the daily chemical waste arisings associated with operation
of the air pollution control system of the New Crematorium would be 36 kg (0.6
x 100/60 x 6 x 6) of used activated carbon and un-reacted lime and 57 kg (0.95
x 100/60 x 6 x 6) of collected particulate matter. Therefore, the estimated total generation of such chemical
wastes would be about 93 kg/day.
7.6.4
In addition, a small amount of
chemical waste in form of cleaning fluids, solvents, lubrication oil and fuel
will be generated during regular maintenance and servicing of battery fork
lift, transformer and switch room, emergency generator room and hydraulic
lifts.
7.6.5
The chemical wastes generated from the
air pollution control system would be in form of ash and those generated during
maintenance and servicing would mainly be in form of liquid. Chemical waste may pose serious
environmental, health and safety hazards if not stored and disposed of in an
appropriate manner as outlined in the Waste
Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation and the Code of Practice on Packing, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes. These hazards may include:
·
Toxic effects to operators
·
Adverse effects on air, water and land
from spills
·
Fire hazards
7.6.6
As chemical waste generation is
expected, the operator must register with the EPD as chemical waste
producer.
7.6.7
Chemical wastes generated from the New
Crematorium can be readily accepted for disposal at the CWTC at Tsing Yi. These chemical wastes should be
collected in drum-type containers
and will be removed by licensed chemical waste contractor periodically. With proper storage, handling and
disposal of small amount of chemical wastes, as detailed in Section 7.8, adverse environmental
impacts are not anticipated.
General Refuse
7.6.8
According to the experience from
operation of the Existing Crematorium, it is anticipated that the quantity of
general refuse generated by visitors and staff during daily operation at the
New Crematorium will not be substantial.
Therefore, with the proper waste management facilities as detailed in Section 7.8 in place, it is expected
that the potential environmental impacts arising from the handling and disposal
of the general refuse will be negligible, and thus will not cause any major
environmental concerns.
General
- Good Site Practice and Waste Reduction Measures
7.7.1
If good site practices are strictly
followed, it is expected that adverse environmental impacts due to waste
generation would not arise. The
following recommendations for good site practice should be included in the
Contract Specifications for the Project during the construction activities:
·
Obtain
relevant waste disposal permits from the appropriate authorities, in accordance
with the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap.
354), Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste)
(General) Regulation (Cap. 354) and the Land
(Miscellaneous Provision) Ordinance (Cap. 28)
·
Prepare
a Waste Management Plan approved by the Engineers/Supervising Officer of the
Project in accordance with Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
Technical Circular (Works) (ETWBTC(W))
15/2003, Waste Management On Construction Sites
·
Nominate
an approved person, such as site manager, to be responsible for good site
practice, arrangements for collection and effective disposal of all types of
wastes generated on-site to appropriate facility
·
Use
waste haulier authorized or licensed to collect specific category of waste
·
Establish
trip ticket system as contractual requirement (with reference to Works Branch Technical Circular (WBTC) No. 21/2002) for monitoring of public
fill and C&D waste at public filling facilities and landfills. Such activities should be monitored by
the Environmental Team
·
Provide
training to site staff in terms of proper waste management and chemical waste
handling procedures
·
Separate
chemical wastes for special handling and dispose them at licensed facility for
treatment
·
Establish
routine cleaning and maintenance programme for drainage systems, sumps and oil
interceptors
·
Provide
sufficient waste disposal points and regular collection for disposal
·
Adopt
measures to minimize windblown litter and dust during transportation of waste,
such as covering trucks or transporting wastes in enclosed containers
·
Establish
recording system for the amount of wastes generated, recycled and disposed of
(including the disposal sites)
7.7.2
The contractor should submit the Waste
Management Plan to Engineer/Supervising Officer of the Project for
approval. The Waste Management
Plan should describe the arrangements for avoidance, reuse, recovery and
recycling, storage, collection, treatment and disposal of different categories
of waste to be generated from the activities of the Project and indicate the
disposal location(s) of all waste.
A trip ticket system shall be included in the Waste Management
Plan.
7.7.3
Waste reduction is the most effective
when considered during planning and design stage, provided those suggested
measures are implemented. Good
management and control can prevent the generation of significant amount of
waste. It is therefore recommended
to include the following practice in the Contract Specifications to ensure
waste reduction:
·
Minimize
the damage or contamination of construction material by proper storage and site
practices
·
Plan
and stock construction materials carefully to minimize amount of waste
generated and avoid unnecessary generation of waste
·
Prior
to disposal of C&D waste, wood, steel and other metals should be separated
for reuse and / or recycling to minimize the quantity of waste to be disposed
of to landfill
·
Minimize
use of wood and reuse non-timber formwork to reduce the amount of C&D waste
·
Recycle
any unused chemicals or those with remaining functional capacity as far as
practicable
·
As far
as practicable, segregate and store different types of waste in different
containers, skips or stockpiles to enhance reuse or recycling of materials and
their proper disposal
·
Encourage
collection of aluminium cans, plastic bottles and packaging material (e.g.
carton boxes) and office paper by individual collectors, separate labeled bins
should be provided to help segregate this waste from other general refuse
generated by the work force
7.7.4
In addition to the above, specific
mitigation measures are recommended below for the identified waste to minimize
environmental impacts during handling, transportation and disposal of these
wastes.
Excavated Material
7.7.5
Rock and soil generated from
excavation should be reused for site formation as far as possible. In addition, excavated material from
foundation work can be reused for landscaping as far as practicable to avoid
disposal off-site.
Construction and Demolition
Material
7.7.6
Careful design, planning and good site
management can minimize over-ordering and generation of waste materials such as
concrete, mortar and cement grouts.
Standard formwork should be used as far as practicable, wooden formwork
should be replaced by metal ones whenever possible. Alternatives such as plastic fencing and reusable site
office structures can also minimize C&D waste generation.
7.7.7
The contractor should recycle as much
as possible of the C&D material on-site. Public fill and C&D waste should be segregated and
stored in different containers or skips to enhance reuse or recycling of
materials and their proper disposal.
Materials such as concrete and masonry can be crushed and used as fill
and steel reinforcing bar can be used by scrap steel mills. Different areas of sites should be
designated for such segregation and storage.
7.7.8
To maximize landfill life, government
policy discourages the disposal of C&D materials with more than 20% inert
material by volume (or 30% inert material by weight) at landfill. Inert C&D material (public fill)
should be directed to an approved public filling area, where it has the added
benefit of offsetting the need for removal of materials from borrow areas for
reclamation purposes.
Contaminated Materials
Further Contamination Investigation
7.7.9
After decommissioning but prior to
demolition of the Existing Crematorium, further contamination investigation should be carried out to
confirm the quality and quantity ash waste, building structures and
contaminated soil requiring treatment and disposal (see Table 7.2 for details). Further contamination
investigation shall provide information on the extent of contamination (DCM /
HMCM / PAHCM) at cremators /flues / chimney as well as the quantity of
contaminated materials requiring treatment and disposal. Regarding ACM, future AIR, AMP/AAP should
be submitted to EPD for approval under the APCO.
Table 7.2 Further Contamination
Investigation Requirements
|
Location
|
Investigation
Parameter
|
Investigation Period
|
Responsible Party
|
Investigation
Procedure
|
|
Cremators / flue / chimney and surrounding
areas
|
Asbestos
(building structures)
|
Phase II
|
The contractor
|
See S.7.7.16
|
|
CLP secondary substation
|
PCB, TPH
(soil samples)
|
Phase I
|
The contractor
|
See Section
6.8 and Appendix C2
|
|
Cremators / flue / chimney and surrounding
areas
|
Dioxins, heavy metals, PAH
(ash waste)
|
Phase II
|
The contractor
|
See S.7.7.9 –
S.7.7.12
|
|
Surface soil around Existing Crematorium
|
Dioxins, heavy metal, PAH
(soil sample)
|
Phase II
|
The contractor
|
See S.7.7.9 –
S.7.7.12
|
7.7.10
For DCM / HMCM / PAHCM in ash waste,
as discussed in Section 7.5, samples
of ash/particulate matters should be collected from within the cremators
(including the bottom ash), chimney walls, flues and surrounding area of the
Existing Crematorium for analysis of dioxin, heavy metals and PAHs by a HOKLAS
accredited laboratory. It is
recommended that a consultant experienced in the abatement of chemical wastes
particularly the handling of DCM, should be appointed in order to assist with
the evaluation of the information and prepare an abatement plan for the ash
waste. Such a plan shall be
submitted to EPD and the Labour Department (LD) to establish an acceptable and
safe method for these potentially hazardous wastes. The abatement plan for ash waste should identify the method
of abatement, the performance criteria for the protection of workers and the
environment and any emergency procedures and contingency measures
required. The plan should also
quantify the amount of material that will require removal. The abatement plan
should be agreed with EPD and LD.
7.7.11
It must be ensured that the treatment
of ash wastes will comply with all routine construction site safety procedures
as well as statutory requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health
Ordinance and Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. Due to the difficulties in establishing
permanent and effective engineering controls, the protection of workers is
likely to be at the worker level.
A safe system of work must be provided, and training and suitable
personal protective equipment as well as hygienic decontamination facilities
should be provided. It is
recommended that the methods to be adopted by the contractor for disposal of
the ash waste should be agreed with LD and EPD.
7.7.12
Sufficient time should be allocated to
abate all ash waste with DCM / HMCM / PAHCM. The contractor should ensure the implications of dust
containing DCM / HMCM / PAHCM on air quality and workers health during the
clean up work are mitigated.
7.7.13 Since DCM is chemically related to PCB wastes, the requirements of
the Code of Practice on the Handling,
Transportation and Disposal of (PCB) Wastes should be referenced when
developing the abatement plan.
Reference should also be made to the safety procedure mentioned in Appendix C2.
7.7.14
A land contamination site
investigation was carried out under this EIA to determine disposal requirements
for contaminated soil (see Section 6
for detail). Further site
investigation on soil around CLP secondary substation is needed when
decommissioned, which will be during Phase I of the works. In addition, confirmatory testing on
DCM level in locations S1 to S6 will be required to identify the appropriate
remediation and disposal requirements during Phase II of the works.
7.7.15
The key measures for handling,
transportation, treatment and disposal of the ACM/DCM/HMCM/PCBCM/PAHCM and
TPHCM are described below:
Asbestos
Containing Materials (ACM)
7.7.16
Further asbestos assessment should be
carried out when access to the cremators /flue /chimney is accessible after
decommissioning and before demolition.
An AMP should be prepared.
The AAP should be prepared and submitted to EPD for approval prior to
commencement of demolition works in accordance to the APCO. It is preferable to remove all ACM
before actual demolition. A registered
asbestos removal contractor should be employed to remove all ACM in accordance
with the approved AAP which will be prepared in due course in accordance with
the Code of Practice (COP) on Asbestos Control for Safe Handling of Low Risk ACM and Asbestos Work Using Full Containment or Mini
Containment Method published by EPD.
A registered asbestos consultant should also be employed to supervise
abatement works. For the disposal
of ACM, the contractor should observe the COP
on Handling, Transportation and Disposal of Asbestos Waste under the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General)
Regulation.
Dioxin Containing Materials (DCM) / Heavy Metal Containing Materials
(HMCM) / Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Containing Materials (PAHCM) from Demolition
of the Existing Crematorium
7.7.17
According to the experience in KCIP
and TSKH, the level of dioxin was the prime factor affecting the ash waste
treatment and disposal options.
With reference to the remediation and disposal methods in KCIP and TSKH
clinical waste incinerator, different contamination classifications based on
the levels of DCM / HMCM / PAHCM in ash waste are proposed in Table 7.3, and
their corresponding handling, transportation, treatment and disposal
methodologies are described in the subsequent paragraphs.
Table
7.3 Proposed Contamination Classification
for Ash Waste with DCM/HMCM
|
Classification of
Contamination
|
Dioxin Level in Ash
Waste
|
Heavy Metal Level /
Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon in Ash Waste
|
|
Low/Non Contaminated DCM / HMCM / PAHCM
|
< 1 ppb TEQ
|
< Dutch “B” List
|
|
Moderately/Severely Contaminated HMCM / PAHCM
|
< 1 ppb TEQ
|
≥ Dutch “B” List
|
|
Moderately Contaminated DCM
|
≥ 1 and <10 ppb TEQ
|
Any level
|
|
Severely Contaminated DCM
|
≥ 10 ppb TEQ
|
Any level
|
Demolition, Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Low/Non Contaminated DCM
/ HMCM / PAHCM from Demolition of Existing Crematorium
7.7.18
Where the ash waste contains low/non
contaminated DCM/HMCM/PAHCM, the contractor should avoid ash waste becoming
airborne during demolition.
General dust suppression measures mentioned in Section 4 should be followed.
All such ash waste can be directly disposal of at landfill.
7.7.19
Subject to the findings of the further
asbestos investigation, building structures where such ash waste is found but
contaminated with asbestos should be dealt in accordance to S.7.7.16.
Demolition, Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Moderately
Contaminated DCM and Moderately/Severely Contaminated HMCM / PAHCM from
Demolition of the Existing Crematorium
7.7.20
The demolition, handling, treatment
and disposal of moderately contaminated DCM and moderately/severely
contaminated HMCM / PAHCM with reference to the Demolition of Kwai Chung Incineration Plant EIA Report and the Project Profile for the Decommissioning and
Disposal of a Clinical Waste Incinerator at Tang Siu King Hospital is given
in Table 7.4.
Table
7.4 Demolition,
Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Moderately Contaminated DCM and Moderately/Severely
Contaminated HMCM / PAHCM
|
Item
|
Procedure
|
|
Site Preparation
|
The contractor should
ensure the impacts of dust containing dioxin and/or heavy metals on air
quality and workers health during the handling and transportation of the
contaminated materials are mitigated.
Except the cremators/flue/chimney, all removable items where
moderately contaminated DCM or moderately/severely contaminated HMCM / PAHCM
is identified should be removed as far as practicable to avoid obstructing
the decontamination activities.
Preliminary site decontamination of all debris shall be carried out
using (High Efficiency Particulate Air) HEPA vacuum cleaner. The top portion of the chimney above
the roof shall be enclosed by a chamber with three layers of polyethene
sheets. At the entrance to the
cremators /flues /chimney, a 3-chamber decontamination unit shall be
constructed for entry and exit from the work area. The 3-chamber
decontamination unit shall comprise a dirty room, a shower room and a clean
room of at least 1m x 1m base each with 3 layers of fire retardant polyethene
sheet where all workers shall carry out decontamination procedures before
leaving the work area. Warning
signs in both Chinese and English should be put up in conspicuous areas.
|
|
|
All workers shall wear full protective equipment, disposable
protective coverall (such as Tyvek) (with hood and shoe covers), nitrile
gloves, rubber boots (or boot covers), and full-face positive pressure
respirators equipped with a combination cartridge that filters particulate
and removes organic vapour. The organic vapour protection is an added
protection against the unlikely exposure to any vapour.
|
|
|
If ACM is identified in building structures where moderately contaminated DCM or moderately/severely contaminated
HMCM / PAHCM is found, relevant abatement measures for building structures
described in the AAP (see S.7.7.16)
should be implemented prior to the above site preparation.
|
|
Demolition and handling
|
The
cremators/flue/chimney shall be removed from top down starting from the
chimney. Any ash or residues
attached to the cremators/flue/chimney or any other building structures shall
be removed by scrubbing and HEPA vacuuming.
Wastes generated from the containment or decontamination unit
including the protection clothing of the workers such as the coverall,
nitrile glove, rubber boots and materials used for wet wiping shall be
disposed of at landfill site.
|
|
|
After completion of removal, decontaminate all surfaces by HEPA
vacuum.
|
|
|
If ACM is identified in building
structures where moderately contaminated DCM or
moderately/severely contaminated HMCM / PAHCM is found, relevant abatement
measures for building structures described in the AAP (see S.7.7.16) should be implemented prior
to the above
decontamination, demolition and handling measures.
|
|
|
|
|
Treatment
|
The ash waste contains dioxin/heavy metals and in its untreated
state would be classified as a chemical waste under the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation. While the quantity of DCM/HMCM is not
expected to be significant, the levels of dioxin and heavy metals would
affect the treatment option.
With reference to the Demolition
of Kwai Chung Incineration Plant EIA Report, immobilization of the
contaminated materials by mixing with cement followed by disposal at landfill
(if landfill disposal criteria can be met) would be the most preferable
option.
|
|
|
Rather than treating the already incinerated ash waste by
incineration, the ash waste with moderately contaminated DCM or
moderately/severely contaminated HMCM / PAHCM should be collected and stabilized
to meet landfill disposal criteria of the Facilities Management Group (FMG)
of EPD. In this case it is
envisaged that the process would involve collection and mixing of the ash waste
with cement. Pilot mixing and
TCLP tests should be carried out done to establish the appropriate ratio of
cement to ash waste to the satisfaction of EPD. It is envisaged that the pilot tests would involve the mixing
of say 5%, 10% and 15% ratios of cement to ash waste and three replicate of 300
mm cube blocks for each ratio.
TCLP tests should then be used to establish the correct ratio of
cement to ash waste to the satisfaction of EPD.
|
|
Disposal
|
After immobilization of the ash waste by mixing with cement in the
correct ratio as determined by the pilot mixing and TCLP test, the waste materials
should be placed inside polyethene lined steel drums for disposal at landfill. Transparent plastic sheeting of 0.15 mm
thickness low-density polyethene or PVC should be employed. The drums should be 16 gauge steel or
thicker and fitted with double bung fixed ends adequately sealed and well
labelled in new or good condition.
The drums should be clearly marked “DANGEROUS CHEMICAL WASTE” in
English and Chinese. Prior
agreement of the disposal criteria from the FMG of EPD and agreement to
disposal from the landfill operator must be obtained.
|
|
|
As a fall back option, if the landfill disposal criteria cannot be
met after immobilization of the ash waste, disposal at the CWTC should be
considered.
|
|
|
The building structures will be disposal of at landfill.
|
|
|
If ACM is identified in building
structures where moderately contaminated DCM or
moderately/severely contaminated HMCM / PAHCM is found, relevant disposal
measures for building structures described in the AAP (see S.7.7.16) should be implemented
instead.
|
Demolition, Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Severely Contaminated DCM from
Demolition of the Existing Crematorium
7.7.21
The areas with severely contaminated
DCM shall be removed under containment as a prudent approach to avoid the
release of any ash waste to the environment, which could be generated during
the demolition of cremators/flue/chimney of the Existing Crematorium. The demolition, handling, treatment and
disposal of severely contaminated DCM with reference to the Project Profile for the Decommissioning and
Disposal of a Clinical Waste Incinerator at Tang Siu King Hospital is given
in Table 7.5.
Table
7.5 Demolition,
Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Severely Contaminated DCM
|
Item
|
Procedure
|
|
Site Preparation
|
Except the
cremators/flue/chimney, all removable items where severely contaminated DCM
is identified should be removed from the cremator room as far as practicable
to avoid obstructing the decontamination activities. Preliminary site decontamination of
all debris shall be carried out using HEPA vacuum cleaner. The walls, floor and ceiling of the
cremator room where severely contaminated DCM located shall be lined with 3
layers of fire retardant polyethene sheets. The top portion of the chimney above the roof shall be
enclosed by a chamber with three layers of polyethene sheets. At the entrance to the
cremators/flues/chimney, a 3-chamber decontamination unit shall be
constructed for entry and exit from the work area. The 3-chamber
decontamination unit shall comprise a dirty room, a shower room and a clean
room of at least 1m x 1m base each with 3 layers of fire retardant polyethene
sheet where all workers shall carry out decontamination procedures before
leaving the work area. Warning
signs in both Chinese and English should be put up in conspicuous areas.
|
|
|
Air movers should be installed at the cremator room, and at the
bottom of the chimney to exhaust air from the work area. A stand-by air mover shall also be
installed with each of the air movers. Sufficient air movement shall be
maintained to give a minimum of 6 air changes per hour to the work area, and
maintain a negative pressure of 0.05-0.15 inches of water within the work
area throughout the entire course of the decommissioning works. A pressure monitor with printout
records and audible alarm shall be installed at an easily accessible location
to demonstrate that negative pressure is maintained. New pre-filters and HEPA filters
shall be used on the air movers.
|
|
|
A copy of the maintenance records of the air movers should be kept
on site for inspection upon request. The appointed contractor shall also
check the differential pressure of the air mover to make sure the filter is
not blocked. A differential pressure above 0.2 inches of water indicates that
the filters would need to be changed.
|
|
|
Smoke Test: before commencement of the decommissioning work, a
smoke test with non-toxic smoke shall be carried out to ensure the
air-tightness of the containment.
Also check whether there are stagnant air pockets indicated by an
aggregate of smoke that cannot effectively be extracted. After a successful test, switch on
the air mover to exhaust smoke from the containment and to give a minimum of
6 air changes per hour, and check visually to see that the filters screen out
the smoke effectively and if the pressure gauges read normal. If not, the air mover shall be sealed
up and returned to the supplier workshop for necessary servicing, and
replaced by a tested air mover.
The normal reading pressure range for maintaining 6 air changes per
hour shall be 1.5-4 mm/0.05-0.15 inches of water or equivalent (negative
pressure). The audible alarm’s integrity should also be checked and the
trigger shall be at <1.5 mm/0.05 inches of water (negative pressure). Otherwise securely seal up all
openings before switching off the air mover.
|
|
|
Treatment of Waste/Workers Safety Protection: the contractor shall
be required to register as a Chemical Waste Producer. All workers shall wear full
protective equipment, disposable protective coverall (such as Tyvek) (with
hood and shoe covers), nitrile gloves, rubber boots (or boot covers), and
full-face positive pressure respirators equipped with a combination cartridge
that filters particulate and removes organic vapour. The organic vapour
protection is an added protection against the unlikely exposure to any vapour
as a necessary measure.
|
|
|
If ACM is identified in building
structures where severely contaminated DCM is found,
relevant abatement measures for building structures described in the AAP (see
S.7.7.16) should be implemented
prior to the above
site preparation.
|
|
Decontamination, demolition and
handling
|
The cremators/flue/chimney shall be removed from top down starting
from the chimney. Any ash or
residues attaching to the cremators/flue/chimney or any other building
structures shall be removed by scrubbing and HEPA vacuuming.
|
|
The detached sections of the building structures where severely
contaminated DCM is located shall be wrapped with 2 layers of fire retardant
polyethene sheets. A third layer
shall then be wrapped and secured with duct tape. Decontaminate the outer layer of the wrapped flue sections
by wet wiping.
|
|
|
Wastes generated from the containment or decontamination unit
including the fire retardant polyethene sheets, protection clothing of the
workers such as the coverall, nitrile glove, rubber boots and materials used
for wet wiping shall be disposed of at landfill site.
|
|
|
The quantity of wastewater generated from the decontaminated
process will be very small but the contractor should take precautionary
measures as to minimize the quantity of contaminated water arising.
Nevertheless, if any contaminated wastewater needs to be discharged out of
the site, it has to be properly treated to WPCO requirements with prior
agreement from EPD on discharge standards.
|
|
|
After completion of removal, decontaminate the surface where
severely contaminated DCM was located, including the wrapped incinerator
furnace and flue sections left within the containment, by wet wiping and HEPA
vacuum. Then spray the innermost layer of the fire retardant polyethene sheet
covering the wall, ceiling and floor with PVA. Upon drying, peel off this
innermost layer of the polyethene sheet covering the containment and dispose
of at landfill site.
|
|
|
Repeat the above decontamination procedure for the second
innermost layer of fire retardant polyethene sheet by wet wiping and HEPA
vacuuming. After spraying with PVA, peel off this second innermost layer of
the polyethene sheet covering the wall, ceiling and floor and dispose of at
landfill site. Finally, the last layer of polyethene sheet shall then be
taken down after spaying with PVA and be disposed as contaminated wastes.
|
|
|
If ACM is identified in building
structures where severely contaminated DCM is found,
relevant abatement measures for building structures described in the AAP (see
S.7.7.16) should be implemented
prior to the above
decontamination, demolition and handling measures.
|
|
Treatment and disposal
|
Waste to be disposed to CWTC: all contaminated ash waste with
severely contaminated DCM removed and the used HEPA filters shall be sent to
CWTC in Tsing Yi. The total
volume should be confirmed by further site investigation.
|
|
|
Waste to be Disposed of at Landfill: other wastes including the
building structures and its associated panels as well as wastes generated
from this decommissioning works are also considered as contaminated waste and
shall be disposed of at a designated landfill. Wastes generated from this
decommissioning works refer to the polyethene wrapping sheets for the
building structures, waste generated from the dismantlement of the
containment and decontamination units, and cloth used in wet wrapping, etc.
as previously described in this section. They shall be placed into
appropriate containers such as drums, jerricans, or heavy duty and leak-proof
plastic as a prudent approach. A
disposal permit has to be obtained from the Authority. The disposal trip
ticket is required to be made available as record after disposal.
|
|
|
If ACM is identified in building
structures where severely contaminated DCM is found,
relevant disposal measures for building structures described in the AAP (see S.7.7.16) should be implemented in
prior to the above disposal measures.
|
Dioxin Containing Materials (DCM) /
Heavy Metal Containing Materials (HMCM) / Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Containing
Materials (PAHCM) / Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Containing Materials (TPHCM) /
Polychlorinated Biphenyls Containing Materials (PCBCM) from Soil Remediation at
the Project Site
7.7.22
According to the CAR and RAP provided
in Appendix C2, less than 100 m3
of soil would require disposal at landfill. Relevant health and safety procedure, waste disposal requirements
and compliance report are as detailed in Appendix
C2. Mitigation measures to
avoid fugitive dust emission mentioned in Section
4 should also be observed.
7.7.23
In addition, after decommissioning but
before demolition of the Existing Crematorium, further investigations during
Phase I of the works at the vicinity of CLP secondary substation should also be
carried out to determine if additional remediation (in addition to the current
RAP) is required. Confirmatory
test on levels of DCM, HMCM and PAHCM in locations S1 to S6 during Phase II of
the works is also required to determine any further remediation
/treatment/disposal. In addition,
the ash waste in cremator/chimney/flues should also be collected for the
testing of DCM/HMCM/PAHCM during Phase II of the works. The sampling and analysis plan should
be prepared and submitted to EPD for approval.
7.7.24
All the aforementioned ACM/DCM/HMCM/PAHCM/TPHCM/PCBCM
are classified as chemical waste.
In addition to the measures mentioned above, the packaging, labelling
and storage practices of chemical waste as stipulated in the following
paragraphs should also be applied to these contaminated materials.
Chemical Waste
7.7.25
All the chemical waste should be
handled according to the Code of Practice
on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes. The chemical waste should be stored and
collected by an approved contractor for disposal at a licensed facility in
accordance with the Waste Disposal
(Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation. Containers used for the storage of chemical waste should:
·
Be suitable for the substance they are
holding, resistant to corrosion, maintained in good condition, and securely
closed;
·
Have a
capacity of less than 450 L unless the specifications have been approved by the
EPD; and
·
Display
a label in English and Chinese in accordance with instructions prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
7.7.26
The storage area for chemical waste
should:
·
Be
clearly labeled and used solely for the storage of chemical waste;
·
Be
enclosed on at least 3 sides;
·
Have
an impermeable floor and bunding, of capacity to accommodate 110% of the volume
of the largest container or 20% by volume of the chemical waste stored in that
area, whichever is the greatest;
·
Have
adequate ventilation;
·
Be
covered to prevent rainfall from entering (water collected within the bund must
be tested and disposal as chemical waste if necessary); and
·
Be
properly arranged so that incompatible materials are adequately separated.
7.7.27
The chemical waste should be disposed
of by:
·
A
licensed waste collector;
·
A
facility licensed to receive chemical waste, such as the CWTC at Tsing Yi,
which offers chemical waste collection service and can supply the necessary
storage containers; and/or
·
A
waste recycling plant as approved by EPD.
General Refuse
7.7.28
General refuse should be stored in
enclosed bins or compaction units separated from C&D and chemical
wastes. A reliable waste collector
should be employed by the contractor to remove general refuse from the site,
separately from C&D and chemical wastes, on a daily or every second day
basis to minimize odour, pest and litter impacts. The burning of refuse on construction sites is prohibited by
law.
7.7.29
Aluminum cans are often recovered from
the waste stream by individual collectors if they are segregated or easily
accessible. Therefore, separately
labeled bins for deposit of these cans should be provided if feasible.
Similarly, plastic bottles and carton package material generated on-site should
be separated for recycling as far as practicable. Site office waste should be reduced through recycling of
paper if volumes are large enough to warrant collection. Participation in a local collection
scheme should be considered if one is available.
Ash and Non-combustible Residues
7.8.1
The disposal of bone ash and
non-combustible residues should be properly collected and handled to avoid dust
emissions. In line with the
current practices, the bone ash will be stored in covered containers for collection
by the deceased’s relatives within 2 months upon appointment while the
non-combustible residues will be collected in sealed heavy-duty polyethene bags
for disposal at landfill. Provided
that these good practices continue, the potential secondary environmental
impacts will be kept to a minimum.
Chemical Waste
7.8.2
The chemical wastes generated from the
air pollution control system would mainly include used activated carbon,
un-reacted lime and collected particulate matter. To prevent health hazards to operators, all such chemical
wastes should be carefully collected and handled to avoid dust emissions.
7.8.3
All the chemical wastes generated from
the air pollution control system as well as from machinery maintenance and
servicing should be dealt with according to the Code of Practice on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical
Wastes under the provisions of the Waste
Disposal (Chemical Waste)(General) Regulation. The chemical wastes should be collected by drum-type containers
and removed by a licensed chemical waste contractor. In addition, the relevant measures as provided in Section 7.7 should be followed.
General Refuse
7.8.4
Waste generated in offices should be
reduced through segregation and collection of recyclable waste materials (such
as paper and carton packages) if the volumes are large enough to warrant
collection. Participation in a
local collection scheme should be considered if one is available.
7.8.5
To promote recycling of waste paper,
aluminum cans and plastic bottles by the visitors, it is recommended to place
clearly labeled recycling bins (such as those available from EPD) at convenient
locations within the New Crematorium area. The recyclable waste materials should then be collected by
reliable waste recycling agents on a regular basis.
7.8.6
The general refuse (other than those
segregated recyclable wastes) should be separated from any chemical wastes and
stored in covered waste skips.
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) should remove general
refuse from the site, separately from chemical wastes, on daily basis to
minimize odour, pest and litter impacts.
Burning of refuse must be strictly prohibited.
7.9.1
This assessment has considered the
waste management implications on the demolition of Existing Crematorium as well
as the construction and operation of New Crematorium. The potential environmental impacts arising from the
handling and disposal of various types of waste materials have been identified. With effective implementation of the
recommended mitigation measures, it is anticipated that the associated
secondary impacts on the environment and the potential impacts on the capacity
of waste collection, transfer and disposal facilities will not be significant.