Reference Materials | Environmental Protection Department

Reference Guide for Environmental Property Management

Common Activities / Facilities
Causing Environmental Problems

2.1

Renovation

Property management offices can take positive steps to minimise renovation related pollution problems by issuing guidance notes to residents/contractors before the start of renovation work. In case of complaints, they can also take a mediation role to resolve problems between relevant parties before reporting the case to the relevant authority for enforcement action.

Noise arising from renovation

Noise from renovation is controlled under the Noise Control Ordinance. Both the Police and Environmental Protection Department enforce the provision.

Unless a Construction Noise Permit has been obtained from Environmental Protection Department

√	Should not use Powered Mechanical Equipment or perform Prescribed Construction Work during restricted hours
(7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and any time on holidays including Sundays)

	Prescribed Construction Work includes:
	erection or dismantling of formwork or scaffolding ; handling of wood, wooden boards, steel bars, rubbles or scaffolding materials ; and hammering.
	To minimise the noise nuisance affecting neighbours
	√ avoid carrying out noisy work before 9 a.m.

	Penalty for working during restricted hours without a permit or failure to comply with permit conditions
	- Maximum fine HK$ 100,000 for first offence.

Air pollution arising from renovation

Air nuisance arising from cement, sand, debris or other dusty materials resulting from renovation is controlled under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance or the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation.

Good air pollution preventive practices include :

		√	cement, sand, debris or other dusty materials stored outside the site should be covered up or wetted in accordance with the requirement of the regulation

		√	spray and hand painting must be done with good ventilation but with main door closed to avoid the solvent odours from affecting people in the neighbourhood

		Penalty for failure to comply with the requirement under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance Maximum fine HK$ 100,000 for first offence.

		Penalty for failure to comply with the requirement under the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation Maximum fine HK$ 25,000.

Construction waste arising from renovation

Disposal of waste in public place or government land without lawful authority is an offence under the Waste Disposal Ordinance.

Separation of construction waste for recycling and proper disposal

√	recyclable materials (i.e. paper, packaging materials, metals and plastics, etc.) : to be sorted out for recycling
√	inert materials (i.e. soil, concrete, bricks, etc.) : to be disposed of at public filling areas
√	non-inert materials (i.e. wood, general rubbish, etc.) : to be disposed of at landfills for large quantity to be disposed of at refuse collection points for small quantity

Penalty for illegal dumping of waste

- Maximum fine HK$200,000 and imprisonment for 6 months for first offence.

Solvent & paint arising from renovation

Solvent and wet solvent-based paint are classifiable as chemical waste and subject to the control of the Waste Disposal Ordinance. They should be collected by a licensed chemical waste collector.

Residual paint and solvent should be reused as far as possible.

Discharge of wet water-based paint into storm drain is an offence under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.

Do not discharge solvent or paint into sewer

√	small quantity of waste solvent or paint from household could be disposed of with household waste

√	for the disposal of large quantity of waste solvent or solvent-based paint, the contractor should register as Chemical Waste Producer with Environmental Protection Department and employ licensed Chemical Waste Collector to arrange for proper disposal

√	limited quantity of water-based/emulsion paint (non-chemical waste in liquid form) may be disposed of at landfill with prior authorization from Facilities Management Group of Environmental Protection Department in the Admission Ticket System and prior agreement with the landfill operator will need to be sought

√	dry/cured paint (non-chemical waste) can be disposed of as normal refuse

Penalty for illegal discharge of effluent

- Maximum fine HK$200,000 and imprisonment for 6 months for first offence.

Penalty for failure of delivering chemical waste to a reception point

- Maximum fine HK$200,000 and imprisonment for 6 months.