11 Waste management IMPLICATIONS

11.2 Environmental Legislation, Policies, Plans, Standards and Criteria

11.2.1 The criteria and guidelines for assessing waste management implications are outlined in Annex 7 and Annex 15 of the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO-TM), respectively.

11.2.2 The following legislation relates to the handling, treatment and disposal of wastes in the Hong Kong SAR and has been used in assessing potential impacts:

· Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354)

· Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation (Cap. 354)

· Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28)

· Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) - Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation

· Dumping At Sea Ordinance (Cap. 466).

Waste Management

11.2.3 The Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) prohibits the unauthorised disposal of wastes. Construction waste is defined under CAP 354N of the WDO as any substance, matter or thing that is generated from construction work and abandoned, whether or not it has been processed or stockpiled before being abandoned, but does not include any sludge, screenings or matter removed in or generated from any desludging, desilting or dredging works. Under the WDO, wastes can be disposed of at designated waste disposal facilities.

11.2.4 Under the WDO, the Chemical Waste (General) Regulation 1992 provides regulations for chemical waste control, and administers the possession, storage, collection, transport and disposal of chemical wastes. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has also issued a ‘guideline’ document, the Code of Practice on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes (1992), which details how the Contractor should comply with the regulations on chemical wastes.

11.2.5 The Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation provides control on illegal tipping of wastes on unauthorised (unlicensed) sites.

Dredged Marine Sediment

11.2.6 The ETWB TCW No. 34/2002 sets out the new procedure for seeking approval to dredge/ excavate sediment and the management framework for marine disposal of dredged/ excavated sediment. This Technical Circular outlines the requirements to be followed in assessing and classifying the sediment and explains the marine disposal arrangement for the classified material. The sediment quality criteria for the classification of sediment are presented in Table 11.1.

11.2.7 Dumping permits from EPD are required for marine disposal of dredged materials.

Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials

11.2.8 The current policy related to the dumping of C&D material is documented in the Works Branch Technical Circular No. 2/93, ‘Public Dump’. Construction and demolition materials that are wholly inert, namely public fill, should not be disposed of to landfill, but taken to public filling areas, which usually form part of reclamation schemes. The Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance requires that dumping licences are obtained by individuals or companies who deliver public fill to public filling areas. The Civil Engineering & Development Department (CEDD) issues the licences under delegated powers from the Director of Lands.

11.2.9 Under the Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation, enacted in January 2005, construction waste delivered to a landfill for disposal must not contain more than 50% by weight of inert material. Construction waste delivered to a sorting facility for disposal must contain more than 50% by weight of inert material, and construction waste delivered to a public fill reception facility for disposal must consist entirely of inert material.

11.2.10 Measures have recently been introduced under Environment, Transport and Works Bureau (ETWB) TCW No. 33/2002 to enhance the management of C&D material including rock, and to minimize its generation at source. The enhancement measures include: (i) drawing up a Construction and Demolition Material Management Plan (C&DMMP) at an early design stage to minimize C&D material generation and encourage proper management of such material; (ii) vetting of the C&DMMP prior to upgrading of the project to Category A in the Public Works Programme; and (iii) providing the contractor with information from the C&DMMP in order to facilitate him in the preparation of the Waste Management Plan (WMP) and to minimize C&D material generation during construction. Projects generating C&D material less than 50,000m³ or importing fill material less than 50,000m³ are exempt from the C&DMMP.

11.3 Assessment Methodology

11.3.1 The criteria for assessing waste management implications are outlined in Annex 7 of the EIAO-TM. The methods for assessing potential waste management impacts during the construction phase follow those presented in Annex 15 of the EIAO-TM and include the following:

· Estimation of the types and quantities of the wastes generated

· Assessment of potential impacts from the management of solid waste with respect to potential hazards, air and odour emissions, noise, wastewater discharges and transport

· Impacts on the capacity of waste collection, transfer and disposal facilities.

Dredged Marine Material

11.3.2 The results of the marine site investigation carried out in the Feasibility Study for Intensification and Extension of Tseung Kwan O (IETKO) and the site investigation conducted under this Project have been reviewed to classify the sediment quality of the proposed dredged areas for the purpose of the EIA Study. The sampling points are presented in Figure 11.1. Five of the sampling locations conducted under the Feasibility Study for IETKO in December 1999 were located within or in the vicinity of the proposed reclamation area of WCR. Sediment samples were collected at six locations under this Project in March 2003 in the area of the WCR and CBL. In March 2003, a site investigation was carried out after reviewing all the available data to obtain underground information to facilitate determination of geotechnical constraints in establishing the feasibility of the proposed TKO further development. Opportunity was also taken to carry out an updated marine sediment quality survey at the same time. Taking account that a second stage site investigation would be carried out at a later stage of the study and also the preferred development option including WCR and CBL has yet to be confirmed at that time, the marine sediment quality survey was only carried out at six locations as shown on Figure 11.1. Subsequent to the findings of Traffic Impact Assessment study which showed the need for WCR to be around year 2016, CEDD has decided not to pursue with the second stage site investigation taking account that the detailed design of the WCR project would be commenced a few years after completion of the Study. Since there is no second stage site investigation, it is proposed to carry out further field investigation/sampling and chemical testings at the detailed design stage. For the purpose of the EIA Study, the previous investigation results should be based since the test requirements as stipulated in the EIA Study Brief have been covered.

11.3.3 Under the new management and classification system, dredged sediments destined for marine disposal are classified according to their level of contamination by 13 contaminants as detailed in Table 11.1.

Table 11.1 Sediment Quality Criteria for the Classification of Sediment

Contaminants	LCEL	UCEL
*Heavy Metal (mg/kg dry weight)*
Cadmium (Cd)	1.5	4
Chromium (Cr)	80	160
Copper (Cu)	65	110
Mercury (Hg)	0.5	1
Nickel (Ni)	40	40
Lead (Pb)	75	110
Silver (Ag)	1	2
Zinc (Zn)	200	270
*Metalloid (mg/kg dry weight)*
Arsenic	12	42
*Organic-PAHs (µg/kg dry weight)*
PAHs (Low Molecular Weight)	550	3160
PAHs (High Molecular Weight)	1700	9600
*Organic-non-PAHs (µg/kg dry weight)*
Total PCBs	23	180
*Organometallics (µg-TBT L^-1 in interstitial water)*
Tributyltin	0.15	0.15

Source: Appendix A of ETWB TCW No. 34/2002 Management of Dredged / Excavated Sediment

Note: LCEL – Lower Chemical Exceedance Level

UCEL – Upper Chemical Exceedance Level

11.3.4 Sediments are categorised with reference to the LCEL and UCEL, as follows:

Category L Sediment with all contaminant levels not exceeding the LCEL. The material must be dredged, transported and disposed of in a manner that minimises the loss of contaminants either into solution or by suspension.

Category M Sediment with any one or more contaminant levels exceeding the LCEL and none exceeding the UCEL. The material must be dredged and transported with care, and must be effectively isolated from the environment upon final disposal unless appropriate biological tests demonstrate that the material will not adversely affect the marine environment.

Category H Sediment with any one or more contaminant levels exceeding the UCEL. The material must be dredged and transported with great care, and must be effectively isolated from the environment upon final disposal.

11.3.5 In case of Category M and Category H contamination under the new system, the final determination of appropriate disposal options, routing and the allocation of a permit to dispose of material at a designated site will be made by EPD and the Marine Fill Committee (MFC) in accordance with the ETWB TCW No. 34/2002.

11.4 Baseline Conditions

Existing Sediment Characteristics

11.4.1 The marine sediment quality analysis results from the site investigation works for the Feasibility Study for IETKO, as compared with the sediment quality criteria for the classification of sediment, are presented in Table 11.2. The chemical testing results indicate that the sediment at VC18 was classified as Category H in accordance with ETWB TCW No. 34/2002 due to high contaminant levels of zinc, lead and nickel. The sediment at G1 was classified as Category H due to the high contaminant level of zinc. The sediment at VC3, G2 and G3 was classified as Category L.

Table 11.2 Sediment Analysis Results from Marine Ground Investigation Works under Feasibility Study for IETKO

Sampling Location	Sampling Depth (m)		Metals and Metalloid Content (mg/kg)									Category
Sampling Location	From	To	Cd	Cr	Cu	Ni	Pb	Zn	Hg	As	Ag	Category
VC3	0.90	1.00	<0.5	7	<10	<6	<15	42	<0.4	NA	NA	L
VC3	1.90	2.00	<0.5	16	<10	9	<15	35	<0.4	NA	NA	L
VC3	2.90	3.00	<0.5	16	<10	9	<15	35	<0.4	NA	NA	L
VC18	0.90	1.00	<0.6	35	57	20	63	300	0.1	10	<1	H
VC18	1.90	2.00	0.9	43	93	10	160	950	0.2	10	<1	H
VC18	2.90	3.00	<0.6	130	7	71	20	39	<0.1	6	<1	H
VC18	5.75	5.85	<0.6	42	9	24	20	71	<0.1	7	<1	L
VC18	8.90	9.00	<0.6	32	9	20	24	63	<0.1	7	<1	L
VC18	11.75	11.85	0.9	<10	<5	<10	180	20	<0.1	13	<1	H
G1*	NA	NA	<0.6	26	42	10	90	590	0.2	11	<1	H
G2*	NA	NA	<0.6	30	56	10	38	130	0.1	8	<1	L
G3*	NA	NA	<0.6	34	51	10	50	170	0.4	11	<1	L
Criteria	LCEL		1.5	80	65	40	75	200	0.5	12	1
Criteria	UCEL		4	160	110	40	110	270	1	42	2

Note:

1. Values in bold indicate exceedance of UCEL under ETWB TCW No. 34/2002.

2. Values in underline indicate exceedance of LCEL under ETWB TCW No. 34/2002.

* Sample depth at seabed

11.4.2 In March 2003, an updated marine sediment quality survey was carried out at six locations (Figure 11.1) for the EIA Study under this Project. The results of the sediment quality analysis are presented in Table 11.3 below. The results indicate that the sediment at the reclamation/ dredging area was generally uncontaminated, except the sediment at VC5 (0.12-0.90 m) and VC13 (0.90-1.90 m), which exceeded the LCEL for the contaminants of copper and mercury, respectively. The sediments at VC5 (0.12-0.90 m) and VC13 (0.90-1.90 m) were classified as Category M. However, these vibrocore locations (VC5 and VC13) are not within the proposed reclamation area. The vibrocores VC7, VC9 and VC10 fall within the proposed reclamation area and are classified as Category L.

Table 11.3 Sediment Analysis Results from Marine Ground Investigation Works under the Project

Sampling Location	Sampling Depth (m)		Metals and Metalloid Content (mg/kg)									µg/kg			µg/L	Category
Sampling Location	From	To	Cd	Cr	Cu	Ni	Pb	Zn	Hg	As	Ag	LMW PAHs	HMW PAHs	PCBs	TBT	Category
VC13	0.57	0.90	0.2	24	36	12	44	160	0.2	4.8	0.3	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	L
VC13	0.90	1.90	0.2	29	29	16	50	160	0.6	5.5	0.4	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	M
VC13	1.90	2.90	0.1	26	6.2	20	17	55	0.2	3.6	<0.1	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	L
VC13	2.90	3.90	0.1	28	8.5	21	21	130	0.2	3.9	<0.1	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	L
VC13	6.17	6.90	0.1	25	7.4	18	22	81	0.1	3.7	<0.1	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	L
VC13	8.90	9.90	0.1	26	8.9	19	31	52	0.1	5.1	<0.1	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	L
VC13	12.00	12.70	0.2	20	7.6	14	28	170	0.1	7.9	<0.1	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	L
VC5	0.12	0.90	0.2	39	92	17	42	90	0.2	4.8	0.7	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	M
VC5	0.90	1.90	<0.1	25	8.4	19	23	130	0.1	4.0	<0.1	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	L
VC5	1.90	2.90	0.1	24	7.0	18	19	170	0.1	4.0	<0.1	<550	<1700	<23	<0.15	L
VC5	2.90	3.90	0.1