Environmental Protection Department

Major Reporting Areas under EPD's Programmes

VI – ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND WASTE MANAGEMENT AND FACILITIES

Long term objective (1) :

Promote waste reduction and recycling, and develop integrated waste management facilities to reduce the environmental burden and landfill space requirement arising from waste disposal.

Targets

Measurement
Method / Indicator

Progress (or slippage with reason(s) if applicable) / Remark

Targets in 2006
i.	To develop long-term plans for integrated waste management facilities to achieve bulk reduction of municipal solid waste.

Measured in terms of progress in preparing a draft development plan for integrated waste management facilities.

Progress
A site search exercise for developing integrated waste management facilities commenced in late 2006.

ii.	To implement the 2nd phase of the pilot scheme on waste tyre recycling.

Measured in terms of quantity of tyres recycled.

1 850 tonnes of waste tyres were diverted away from landfills for recycling. Waste tyres were processed into rubber crumbs for production of various rubber products.

iii.	To engage contractors to recycle a combined total of 42 000 used computers, electrical appliances and cathode ray tubes at Kowloon Bay Transfer Station (KBTS).

Measured in terms of number of items recycled or processed at KBTS.

More than 45 000 used computers, electrical appliances and cathode ray tubes were processed in KBTS by Caritas and St. James Settlement .

iv.	To complete a pilot computer recycling project with the computer industry to collect commercial operation data by the end of 2006.

Measured in terms of progress of the project.

Completed.

v.	To enhance the collection of rechargeable batteries under the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programme to improve the rate to 10% by April 2007.

Measured in terms of the recovery rate of rechargeable batteries.

In progress. Recovered 22 tonnes in 9 months from April to December 2006, which is equivalent to a yearly recovery rate of 11.7%.

vi.	To commence construction of the EcoPark in mid 2006, and make Phase I of the EcoPark ready for occupation by tenants by the end of 2006.

Measured in terms of tenancies leased.

Leasing of the first batch of Phase I lots in EcoPark in Tuen Mun Area 38 (3 lots) commenced in December 2006.

vii.	To recruit 470 housing estates/buildings to participate in the programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste by the end of 2006.

Measured in terms of number of participating housing estates/ buildings.

By the end of 2006, 497 housing estates/buildings had signed up to join the Programme.

viii.	To identify and implement potential waste management/recycling activities in the Island East Transfer Station (IETS), and propose and acquire the most suitable and cost effective operational arrangements for the follow-on operation of the IETS after its existing contract expires.

Measured in terms of the completion of the consultancy study and the procurement of the follow-on contract.

In progress. Pre-qualification submissions from tenderers were received in December 2006. The contract will commence by the end of 2007.

ix.	To commission a grease trap waste treatment facility at the West Kowloon Transfer Station in 2007.

Measured in terms of progress towards commissioning the project.

A Supplementary Agreement was signed in 2006 followed by commencement of the design of the facility.

x.	To complete examination of the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill for the control of clinical waste by the Legislative Council.

Measured in terms of completion of the examination of the amendment.

The Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance 2006 was enacted in April 2006.

xi.	To submit the draft Waste Disposal (Clinical Waste) (General) Regulation to the Legislative Council after passage of the Bill.

Measured in terms of the timing of submission of the Regulation.

Drafting of the regulation was in progress.

xii.	To develop voluntary schemes on plastic bag reduction with the major supermarkets and retail chains.

Measured in terms of progress and achievement of the target.

Ten major retailers, including the three largest supermarket chains, entered into a "Voluntary Agreement on Plastic Bag Reduction" with the EPD in 2006, and pledged to distribute 120 million fewer plastic shopping bags in a year. By the end of 2006, they exceeded their pledge by saving more than 124 million plastic shopping bags.

In parallel, major green groups co-organised a monthly "No Plastic Bag Day" campaign from June to December 2006, with the participation of some 30 retail chains and support from the EPD. The distribution of plastic bags reportedly fell by between 33% and 54% at participating retail chains. Riding on this success, the retailers will continue the campaign in 2007.

Targets for 2007
i.	To develop long-term plans for integrated waste management facilities to achieve bulk reduction of municipal solid waste.

Measured in terms of progress in preparing a draft development plan for integrated waste management facilities.

Remark
A site search exercise for developing integrated waste management facilities commenced in late 2006.

ii.	To lease the land in Phase I of the EcoPark to the recycling and environmental industry in 2007.

Measured in terms of tenancies leased.

Leasing of the first batch of Phase I lots in EcoPark (3 lots) in first half of 2007.

iii.	To engage contractors to recycle a combined total of 42 000 used computers, electrical appliances and cathode ray tubes at KBTS.

Measured in terms of number of items recycled or processed at KBTS centres.

Nil.

iv.	To submit the draft Waste Disposal (Clinical Waste) (General) Regulation to the Legislative Council after passage of the Bill.

Measured in terms of the timing of submission of the Regulation.

v.	To present a specific proposal on an environmental levy on plastic shopping bags, as foreshadowed in the 2007/08 Budget Speech.

Measured in terms of fulfilment of the target.

vi.	To identify and implement potential waste management/recycling activities in the IETS, and propose and acquire the most suitable and cost effective operational arrangements for the follow-on operation of the IETS after its existing contract expires.

Measured in terms of the completion of the consultancy study and the procurement of the follow-on contract.

vii.	To enhance the collection of rechargeable batteries under the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programme to improve the rate to 15% by April 2008.

Measured in terms of the recovery rate of rechargeable batteries.

viii.	To recruit 700 housing estates/buildings to participate in the Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste by the end of 2007.

Measured in terms of number of participating housing estates/ buildings.

Long term objective (2) :

Achieve full recovery of the variable operating cost of collecting and treating chemical waste and MARPOL waste at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC).

Targets

Measurement
Method / Indicator

Progress (or slippage with reason(s) if applicable) / Remark

Targets in 2006
i.	To continue with the programme to revise the charges for disposal of chemical waste and MARPOL waste at the CWTC.

Measured in terms of implementing the increased charges.

Progress
MARPOL waste charges were adjusted on 31 March 2006. The revision of chemical waste charges has slipped due to legal complications.

Targets for 2007
i.	To revise the charges for disposal of chemical waste.

Remark
Nil.

Long term objective (3) :
(effective as of 2007)

Award the follow-on contract of the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre including modification for co-treatment of clinical waste.

Targets

Measurement
Method / Indicator

Progress (or slippage with reason(s) if applicable) / Remark

Targets for 2007
i.	To pre-qualify the potential tenderers.

ii.	To tender.

Measured in terms of completion of the pre-qualification of tenderers and invitation of tender.

Remark
Nil.