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SECTION
3 NATURAL RESOURCES CAPITAL STOCK
| 3.5 |
Solid
Waste |
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| 3.5.1.1 |
Solid waste is not generally regarded as
a natural resource, rather as a by-product
of the use of natural resources. Assessment
of Hong Kong's position with regard to solid
waste is therefore a proxy for a discussion
of Hong Kong's use of raw materials and
consumption patterns. In addition, the improper
disposal of solid waste often leads to contamination
of soil and groundwater which degrades the
land natural resource capital stock, creating
unhygienic conditions, and reducing the
aesthetic value of amenity areas (eg country
parks and marine areas). For these reasons,
solid waste is discussed below as a natural
resource issue.
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| 3.5.2 |
Existing
Capital Stock and Trends |
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| 3.5.2.1 |
The
following section describes the existing
position with regard to the different types
of waste arisings, various routes of disposition
of these wastes (ie recycling, waste collection
and disposal in landfills, and unauthorised
dumping), and the consequences of these
disposal practices for Hong Kong's groundwater
and soil resources.
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Types
of Waste Arisings |
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| 3.5.2.2 |
The
Hong Kong SAR Government employs a waste
classification system which defines five
categories of waste arisings:
- Municipal
solid waste (MSW), which includes waste
arisings from the daily activities of
domestic, commercial and industrial
sources. Most MSW from domestic sources
is collected by the public sector (Department
of Food and Environmental Hygiene),
and most commercial and industrial MSW
is collected by private waste collectors;
- Construction
and Demolition (C&D) waste which
is defined as waste arising from land
excavation and formation, building construction,
site clearance, demolition and roadworks;
- Chemical
waste which arises from processes or
trade activities which contain chemicals
likely to cause environmental pollution
or pose a health risk;
- Special
wastes which include livestock and animal
wastes, asbestos, clinical waste, treatment
works sludges and screenings; and
- Other
solid waste including coal ash, dredged
mud and excavated materials disposed
of at marine dumps.
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| 3.5.2.3 |
When assessing total waste arisings, MSW is
often grouped with the category of construction
and demolition (C&D) waste as both types
of waste can be received by Hong Kong's landfills.
However, the inert portion of C&D material
(called public fill) is also received by designated
public fill areas which may be part of reclamation
projects. Annual statistics on C&D material
arisings are highly variable as they reflect
changes in economic activity, development
and redevelopment, and the implementation
of large infrastructure projects. |
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| 3.5.2.4 |
Due
to the larger than expected rate of growth
in municipal waste arisings and the concomitant
shortening of the expected lifespan of existing
landfills, MSW is a key target of the HKSAR
Government's Waste Reduction Framework Plan.
However, C&D wastes represent the largest
proportion of all waste currently directed
to landfill and the Framework Plan also targets
this sector for waste reduction. |
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