Persistent Organic Pollutants - FAQ 10

FAQs

10. Is any of the Stockholm Convention POPs being produced or used in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, the nine POPs pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), mirex and toxaphene) are not registered or their registration status has been cancelled for many years due to toxicological or environmental concerns.  None of them are now being produced or used in Hong Kong.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are no longer used as an industrial chemical in Hong Kong, but PCB-containing products manufactured from past industrial activities still exist. Results of a PCB-equipment survey conducted by the EPD in 2001/02 indicate that there are no PCB-containing transformers in the local industries and the quantity of PCB capacitors has dropped significantly since the previous survey in 1994/95.  At present, only a small number of capacitors still remains and most of them are no longer in use and expected to be disposed of anytime. Phased out PCB-containing equipment is classified as a chemical waste, the disposal of which is under the control of the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap 354). Small PCB-containing equipment (whole) and PCB-fluid removed from large PCB-containing equipment are incinerated at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre.  The PCB-contaminated solid waste is disposed of at landfills.

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