7.5 Programme for Restoration and Afteruse of Landfills

Hong Kong has 13 closed landfills that collectively occupy about 300 hectares of land or 1.6 % of our total urban area. They take up enough space to accommodate 15 urban parks of the size of Victoria Park. These closed landfills need to be restored to minimise their potential impacts on the environment and to enable their development for future beneficial use.

Restoration work on 12 landfills has been completed and a contract to restore the remaining landfill at Pillar Point Valley in Tuen Mun is due to be awarded in 2004. Restored facilities feature such things as low permeability final cover, leachate collection systems, landfill gas management systems, leachate treatment works and environmental monitoring systems.

The restored landfills have an operation period of up to 30 years during which building development cannot take place due to settlement problems. However, the restoration contractors will ensure the landfills are kept safe during this period and that they are environmentally acceptable for some temporary land uses. The Government has started converting restored landfills into recreational facilities.

A golf driving range, which was the first recreational facility built on top of the restored landfills was opened on the Shuen Wan landfill in 1999. In addition, a number of recreational facilities which include grass pitches and 9-hole golf course are currently under planning. The construction of a multi-purpose grass pitch at the Sai Tso Wan Landfill is scheduled to commence in 2003.

Location of Landfills in Hong Kong

Implementation Programme of Landfill Afteruse



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