5.                   waste management

Introduction

5.1               Waste management during the construction phase will be the contractor’s responsibility.  The contractor must ensure that all wastes produced during the construction phase of the Project are handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with good waste management practices and EPD’s regulations and requirements. The recommended mitigation measures should form the basis of the site Waste Management Plan to be developed by the Contractor in the construction stage.

5.2               Other waste materials generated during construction activities, such as construction and demolition (C&D) materials and general refuse, are recommended to be audited at regular intervals (at least monthly) to ensure that proper storage, transportation and disposal practices are being implemented.  This monitoring of waste management practices will ensure that these solid wastes generated during construction are not disposed of into the adjacent coastal waters.  The Contractor will be responsible for the implementation of any mitigation measures to minimise waste or redress problems arising from the waste materials.

Mitigation Measures

5.3               Mitigation measures for waste management are summarised below. With the appropriate handling, storage and removal of waste arising during the construction works as defined below, the potential to cause adverse environmental impacts will be minimised.  The implementation schedule of the recommended mitigation measures is presented in Appendix B.  During the site inspections, the ET shall pay special attention to the issues relating to waste management and check whether the Contractor has implemented the recommended good site practices and other mitigation measures.

Good Site Practices

5.4               It is not anticipated that adverse waste management related impacts would arise, provided that good site practices are strictly followed.  Recommendations for good site practices during the construction activities include:

·         nomination of an approved personnel, such as a site manager, to be responsible for good site practices, arrangements for collection and effective disposal to an appropriate facility, of all wastes generated at the site

·         training of site personnel in proper waste management and chemical handling procedures

·         provision of sufficient waste disposal points and regular collection for disposal

·         appropriate measures to minimise windblown litter and dust during transportation of waste by either covering trucks or by transporting wastes in enclosed containers

·         regular cleaning and maintenance programme for drainage systems, sumps and oil interceptors

Waste Reduction Measures

5.5               Good management and control can prevent the generation of significant amount of waste.  Waste reduction during construction is best achieved at the planning and design stage, as well as by ensuring the implementation of good site practices.  Recommendations to achieve waste reduction include:

·         sort C&D waste from demolition and decommissioning of the existing facilities to recover recyclable portions such as metals

·         segregation and storage of different types of waste in different containers, skips or stockpiles to enhance reuse or recycling of materials and their proper disposal.

·         to encourage collection of aluminium cans by individual collectors, separate labelled bins shall be provided to segregate this waste from other general refuse generated by the work force.

·         proper storage and site practices to minimise the potential for damage or contamination of construction materials.

·         plan and stock construction materials carefully to minimise amount of waste generated and avoid unnecessary generation of waste.

5.6               In addition to the above good site practices and waste reduction measures, specific mitigation measures are recommended below for the identified waste arisings to minimise environmental impacts during handling, transportation and disposal of these wastes. 

General Refuse

5.7               General refuse should be stored in enclosed bins or compaction units separate from C&D material.  A reputable waste collector should be employed by the contractor to remove general refuse from the site, separately from C&D material.  Preferably an enclosed and covered area should be provided to reduce the occurrence of 'wind blown' light material.

Construction and Demolition Material

5.8               In order to minimise the impact resulting from collection and transportation of C&D material for off-site disposal, the excavated materials arising from site formation of the expansion areas and tunnel construction for the funicular train system should be reused on-site as backfilling material and for landscaping works as far as practicable.  In addition, the surplus rock and other inert C&D material should be disposed of as far as practicable at the public fill sites, for beneficial use by other projects in Hong Kong, or further disposed of in the Mainland for use by other suitable projects in the Mainland.  Other mitigation requirements are listed below:

·         A Waste Management Plan should be prepared.

·         A recording system for the amount of wastes generated, recycled and disposed (including the disposal sites) should be proposed.

·         In order to monitor the disposal of C&D and solid wastes at public filling facilities and landfills and to control fly-tipping, a trip-ticket system should be included. One may make reference to ETWB TCW No.31/2004 for details.

Chemical Wastes

5.9               If chemical wastes are produced at the construction site, the Contractor would be required to register with the EPD as a Chemical Waste Producer and to follow the guidelines stated in the Code of Practice on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes.   Good quality containers compatible with the chemical wastes should be used, and incompatible chemicals should be stored separately.  Appropriate labels should be securely attached on each chemical waste container indicating the corresponding chemical characteristics of the chemical waste, such as explosive, flammable, oxidizing, irritant, toxic, harmful, corrosive, etc.  The Contractor shall use a licensed collector to transport and dispose of the chemical wastes, to either the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre at Tsing Yi, or another licensed facility, in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.