| 5.2e |
Environmentally
Sound Waste Management and Facilities |
|
Our Responsibilities | Waste Disposal
in Hong Kong | Achievements in 2004
|
Our
Responsibilities
We aim to
provide convenient and cost-effective waste management facilities,
as well as promote a sustainable approach to waste management in Hong
Kong, in which we consume less, produce less waste and re-use or recover
value from waste.
Waste
Disposal in Hong Kong
The quantities
of waste disposed of at Hong Kong's landfills have remained steady
over the years. In 2004:
| • |
|
3.4
million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) required disposal,
a figure that has been stable in recent years (see Table 1 -
MSW). This compares favourably with a 3.5% annual growth rate
in the years before 2000. |
| • |
|
Construction
waste disposed of at landfills decreased by 2% over 2003 to 2.41
million tonnes. Construction waste has been a problem at landfills
for years (see Table 1 - C&D Waste). |
| • |
|
Special
wastes disposed of at landfills, such as asbestos and livestock
waste and sludge from sewage and water treatment, increased
by 2% to 0.59 million tonnes (see Table 1 - Special Waste). |
| • |
|
The
Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) treated 37 500 tonnes of
waste (see breakdown in Table 2). |
| Table
1 - |
Quantity
of municipal solid waste (MSW), C&D waste and
special waste disposed of at landfills in 1991-2004 |
|
Year |
MSW
|
C&D
Waste |
Special
Waste |
2004
|
3
400 |
2
410 |
593 |
2003 |
3
450 |
2
460 |
580 |
2002 |
3
440 |
3
720 |
560 |
| 2001
|
3
390 |
2
340 |
400 |
| 2000 |
3
410 |
2
740 |
400 |
1999
|
3
380 |
2
880 |
320 |
1998 |
3
190 |
2
570 |
290 |
1997 |
3
170 |
2
370 |
230 |
| 1996
|
2
970 |
2
750 |
180 |
| 1995 |
2
850 |
5
150 |
130 |
| 1994 |
3
080 |
5
650 |
140 |
| 1993 |
3
090 |
4
200 |
90 |
| 1992 |
2
890 |
4
370 |
90 |
| 1991 |
2
700 |
5
980 |
120 |
| Quantity
(x 1 000 tonnes) |
|
| Table
2 - |
Chemical
waste collected at CWTC 2004 |
|
| MARPOL
oily water |
11
784 tonnes |
| MARPOL
waste |
7
254 tonnes |
| Spent
etchants (Non-ammonical) |
1
702 tonnes |
| Land
based waste oil |
6
177 tonnes |
| Halogenated,
non-halogenated & flammable solvent |
2
591 tonnes |
| Acids |
3
172 tonnes |
| Spent
etchants (Ammonical) |
2
125 tonnes |
| Alkalis |
1
169 tonnes |
| Toxic
metal & metallic compound |
1
306 tonnes |
| Others
(including cyanide/pesticides/PCB wastes etc.) |
252
tonnes |
|
|
The EPD manages
three strategic landfills, built in the 1990s to meet waste management
needs. Eight refuse transfer stations serve almost six million people
and help to reduce the number of vehicle trips to landfills (see map
at Figure 1).
Figure
1 - Refuse Transfer Stations and Landfills in Hong Kong.
Achievements
in 2004
| Waste Reduction |
Construction Waste | Waste Facilities
| Other Achievements
|
Waste Reduction
Our performance
The recovery rate of municipal solid waste decreased slightly from
41% in 2003 to about 40% in 2004. The surge in metals recovery seen
in 2003 subsided somewhat, but this was balanced by higher demand
for other recyclables. Much of the waste recovery occurs in the commercial
and industrial sectors.
Recycling in housing
estates
To encourage more domestic recycling, a Waste Recycling Campaign for
Housing Estates was launched in 1998. It now covers 1 420 estates
and collects paper, aluminium cans and plastic bottles from each block.
In 2004 a pilot scheme on source separation of domestic waste was
launched. The objective of the programme was to facilitate residents
to separate waste at source by providing waste separation facilities
on each floor, and broaden the types of recyclables recovered. In
addition to the materials collected by the 3-coloured waste separation
bins, all metals, plastics and other recyclables were collected and
residents were reminded to recycle all uncontaminated paper, not just
newspapers and magazines as seen previously. The scheme has been successful
and was rolled out territory-wide in January 2005. This scheme was
initiated based on experience gained from a trial dry-wet waste separation
scheme, which was found to be too expensive to operate.
A
resident deposits waste in the waste separation bins in a housing
estate.
Other recycling
| • |
The
Wastewi$e programme continued to sign on new members, including
all public hospitals. Operators set targets to reduce and recycle
waste and use recycled products, and membership has reached
771 since 1999. |
| • |
About
41 000 used computers and electrical and electronic equipment
were collected for re-use and recycling in a one-year pilot
scheme ending in December 2004. |
| • |
A
study on characterising food waste got underway, with the goal
of facilitating interested parties to develop on-site treatment
in 2005. |
Photo
of Converting food waste for other uses reduces pressure on landfills.
Supporting the
recycling industry
| • |
28
short-term tenancies for recyclers have been secured so far.
The tenancies initially lasted only about six months, but by
the end of 2004 typically ran for three to five years and had
good facilities such as paved surfaces and convenient access. |
| • |
Work
proceeded on the EIA, land use rezoning plan and infrastructure
study for the Eco Park, a 20-hectare site in Tuen Mun Area 38
to provide permanent facilities for recycling. The target opening
date is late 2006. |
| • |
Product
responsibility is being encouraged through a Rechargeable Battery
Recycling Programme, which will begin in early 2005 to collect
all types of rechargeable batteries. More than 30 producers,
importers and retailers have signed up. Meanwhile, a pilot programme
to recycle waste tyres was extended to April 2005 and by the
end of 2004 had collected 4 600 tonnes of waste tyres, saving
HK$3.3 million in landfill disposal costs. |
Photo
of A waste recycling site at Cha Kwo Ling.
Construction
Waste
About 38% of waste
at landfills is construction waste. In 2004 the Legislative Council
passed a bill allowing for construction waste disposal charges. This
is expected to reduce construction waste loads by about 20%. The charges
are: $100 per tonne to deposit waste at sorting facilities for re-use
and recycling; $27 per tonne at public reception facilities for inert
waste; and $125 per tonne at landfills for waste that contains less
than 50% inert material. The charges will come into effect in the
latter part of 2005.
Waste
Facilities
Existing landfills
The three strategic landfills are running out of space and the EPD
has proposed to extend them. Relevant stakeholders were consulted
in 2004 on the scope of feasibility and EIA studies, which will begin
in 2005. District Councillors and Legislative Councillors were invited
to visit some of the sites, and the public was invited to comment
on the potential environmental impacts of the extension schemes. The
EIA study briefs will include a requirement that 3-D public engagement
tools be used, to enhance public understanding of the proposals.
An agreement has
also been signed with a landfill contractor on off-site utilisation
of landfill gas. The landfill gas will be used as substitute fuel
for the production of town gas.
Integrated Waste
Management Facilities
Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMF) will be needed to reduce
the bulk of waste. 59 Expression of Interest proposals have been received,
suggesting possible technologies for IWMF. An advisory group and five
sub-groups of mostly non-officials, suggested 129 criteria for assessing
the proposals. Two view-sharing sessions were held with stakeholders
in November 2004, including academics, green groups, professional
institutions and public utilities. A full public consultation on the
possible technologies will be held in 2005.
Other
Achievements
Sludge:
A study was commissioned to develop treatment facilities for sludge,
which is expected to increase from 800 tonnes per day now to more
than 2 000 tonnes per day when the next phase of the Harbour Area
Treatment Scheme is commissioned (see 5.2d
Better Water Quality for details).
Clinical Waste: A bill to control clinical waste was submitted
to the Legislative Council in June 2003 but the Council did not have
time to consider the bill in the 2003/04 legislative year. The bill
will be re-introduced in early 2005.
Low-level
Radioactive Waste: A storage facility for this waste is being
built on Siu A Chau and is expected to be commissioned in 2005.
Risk-based
Remediation Goals for Contaminated Land: These have been drafted
and were being considered by the Environment, Transport and Works
Bureau at the end of 2004.
Workshop on
Dioxins: The EPD attended an international conference in Hangzhou
on dioxins and hosted a workshop in Hong Kong with officials from
the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Chemical Waste:
A study was commissioned in 2004 to inspect the Chemical Waste Treatment
Centre at Tsing Yi and to determine the future chemical waste treatment
requirements after 2008.
Re-use of
Closed Landfill: The Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground, the first
permanent recreational facility built on a restored landfill in Hong
Kong, was opened for use by the public in April 2004.
Photo
of The jogging track at Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground is paved with
recycled material.
|