| The EPD and the Hong Kong Vehicle Repair Merchants Association have been collaborating since late 2000 to control air, noise and other pollution from garages. When the EPD receives a complaint about pollution against workshop that had joined the collaboration scheme, the Association is informed and sends out an "ambassador" to help resolve the problem. The EPD is kept fully briefed on the situation. This arrangement has contributed to a general improvement in compliance. In September 2002, the Environmental Vehicle Repairers Association also formed collaboration with EPD.
Up to now more than 340 garages have joined the collaboration programme. District Councilors in areas with high concentration of garages were briefed on the scheme and supported it. The EPD has organized two open seminars for garage owners. It has also given talks on good practices to apprentices at the Automobile Industry Training Centre of the Vocational Training Council. Ten workshops have been held on paint-spraying techniques that are more environmentally friendly, and were well received by garage operators.
Additionally, the EPD initiated a joint study with the Association and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) on controlling volatile organic compounds from the repairing activities, such as car painting with the use of a portable activated carbon air filtration system. Based on the promising results in the trial study, HKPC was commissioned to produce technical specifications of the activated carbon adsorption system for the trade’s reference. Two fixed installations with different configuration (wall-mounted and ceiling-mounted) were installed at one medium size garage and one small size garage respectively for the study. In promoting the system and its technical specifications to the trade, 1 seminar, 7 plant visits and 6 road shows were arranged between October 2002 and January 2003.
Another highlight of the partnership programme was a Smoky Vehicle Testing Day held in July 2002. The event helped raise awareness of the importance of vehicle maintenance in preventing pollution. The EPD organized the event with the Association and the Kowloon City District Council.
EPD also participated in the 37th Hong Kong Products Expo at Tamar Site from 14 December 2002 to 6 January 2003. The theme of EPD's exhibition was "Partnership Programmes with the Community for a Better Environment". Vehicle repair trade was one of the partnership programmes with display panels at the EPD exhibition booth. This helped promote the environmental awareness and to the government's efforts in helping the trade to the public. The Chairperson of the trade association was interviewed by the Radio Television Hong Kong to share his experience on the partnership programme with the public. The last episode of the Expo was "The Environmental Day" held on 4 January 2003 which featured with variety shows. Numerous pop singers were present and helped disseminate the environmental messages to the trade and the public.
In mid-January 2004, EPD released to the trade practitioners a comprehensive and user friendly environmental guidebook (Chinese Version only) on environmental friendly vehicle repairing practices and summary of the requirements of environmental laws. The guidebook is supplemented by a video CD (Chinese Version only) showing the pollution control measures. By now, there is a set of good educational tool available for reference by the trade.
In order to encourage the vehicle repairing trade to adopt the environmentally responsible practices as given in the EPD guidebook and VCD, EPD organised a Green Garage Election 2004 for the small and medium sized garages in early 2004. The purpose of the Election is to give recognition to those environmentally responsible vehicle repair workshops. The event was co-organised with the two leading trade associations, namely the Hong Kong Vehicle Repair Merchants Association Ltd. and the Environmental Vehicle Repairers Association. A judging panel was formed with representatives from institutions, trade associations, car owners association and EPD. The event attracted about 160 entries from the small and medium sized garages in Hong Kong. The award presentation ceremony to the winners was held at East Point City in May 2004.
As part of the Green Garage Election 2004 programme, students of the Department of Automobile Engineering from the Institute of Vocational Education and the Automobile Industry Training Centre of Vocational Training Council were invited to participate in the "Green Garage Logo Design Competition". The competition helped enhance the awareness on green management of garage operations. The three winners were presented with certificates at the award presentation ceremony.
In July 2004, the EPD established a Compliance Assistance Office (renamed as Business Facilitation Office in April 2005) to strengthen the partnership programme with trades and industries. The Business Facilitation Office is dedicated to provide support to targeted trades and industries to facilitate compliance with environmental requirements and adoption of green practices.
To provide an additional platform to disseminate relevant information to the VRW trade practitioners as well as to other interested groups and the public, a new Green Garage website was developed and launched in January 2005. Updated environmental information can be browsed through the internet.
In addition to the Green Garage Website, a Help Desk to Help the Trade service (Hotline telephone number: 2838 3111) has been launched in February 2005 to provide a comprehensive one-stop source of information to the targeted trades, and to advise on the environmental standards and legislation, and the reference information available to comply with the requirements.
Recycling Vehicle Tyres
A producer responsibility scheme is being investigated for used vehicle
tyres. Manufacturers would take responsibility for collecting used
or end-of-life tyres for recycling or other treatment. The EPD has
held meetings and a brainstorming session with the industry, which
is now gathering views from individual stakeholders.
Recovering Vapour From Filling Stations
The EPD and oil companies formed a joint study team to investigate ways of controlling the petrol vapours emitted when vehicles are being refuelled. The results have been used to help formulate a control plan. |