Problems & Solutions

Integrated Waste Management Facilities

Objective

Technology

The IWMF will be developed in phases. The IWMF Phase 1 (I·PARK1) has a designed treatment capacity of 3,000 tonnes each day. It adopts advanced incineration as the core treatment technology as well as a demonstration scale mechanical sorting and recycling facility for recovery of useful resources from the mixed MSW.

Advanced technologies are able to reduce pollutant emissions from incineration effectively. For example in Germany, the amount of waste incinerated in year 2000 doubled that in 1990, but due to the adoption of advanced control technologies, the dioxin emission was only one-thousandth of that in 1990. Overseas experience and studies have also demonstrated that advanced incineration plants that comply with stringent emission standards will not cause adverse health impacts.

I·PARK1 adopts advanced incineration technology to ensure effective decomposition of organic compounds including dioxins. In addition, I·PARK1 employs highly efficient air pollution control systems for treating flue gas emissions, ensuring that the air pollutants, such as acidic gases, nitrogen oxides, etc. comply with emission standards stipulated in the Specified Process Licence issued under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311), in order to safeguard the environment and the public health.

(Advanced incineration and flue gas treatment technology adopted by I·PARK1 - Process Flow Diagram)

Air quality monitoring stations of I·PARK1 have been set up at Shek Kwu Chau (SKC), Cheung Chau and South Lantau to provide objective data on local air quality to ensure that the operation of I·PARK1 will not affect the surrounding environment. An action level has been set at 95% of the emission limits to provide early alarm such that we can take appropriate actions according to a formulated plan which include ceasing the MSW feeding and preparing for shut down of the incineration system.

IWMF Site Selection

A comprehensive site selection exercise that aimed to determine potential sites for developing the IWMF was completed in January 2008. Two potential sites were identified, namely the Tsang Tsui Ash Lagoons site in Tuen Mun and the Shek Kwu Chau site (to be reclaimed) to the south of Lantau Island.
 

Tsang Tsui Ash Lagoons site
 

Potential Sites for the Development of IWMF

Shek Kwu Chau site

Engineering Investigation and Environmental Impact Assessment Studies

In November 2008, the government commenced a detailed Engineering Investigation and Environmental Impact Assessment Studies (EI&EIA Studies) for these two sites to ascertain their overall suitability. The EI&EIA Studies were completed in 2012. The EIA for IWMF Phase 1 was approved under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance on 17th January 2012. The full approved EIA report is available at internet website (www.eia.hk).

• it has the best proven track record of application in large MSW treatment facilities (i.e. over 3,000 tonnes per day (tpd));
• it is the most robust thermal technology, capable of treating different sizes and qualities of mixed MSW;
• it possesses the least operational complexity; and
• it requires the least capital and operating costs.

 

Taking into account the EIA report results and Hong Kong’s overall waste management strategy as a whole, the Government has identified the artificial island near SKC as the preferred site for developing the first modern IWMF. Please refer to the Legislative Council Brief and the Environmental Affairs Panel Papers no.: 1. CB(1) 1369/11-12(01) and 2. CB(1) 1628/11-12(01) for more information.

Technology Review
Having reviewed different thermal treatment technologies, the EI&EIA Studies proposed that the moving grate incineration be adopted as the core technology for MSW treatment. The advantages of this technology are that :-
 

In December 2009, the Advisory Committee on the Environment (ACE) was consulted on the recommended moving grate incineration technology (ACE Paper, Annex A, Annex B and Minutes of Meeting, 14th Dec 2009 [ACE 22/2009] ). The ACE supported the recommended incineration technology and agreed that a mechanical sorting and recycling facility with a treatment capacity of 200 tonnes per day should be incorporated in the IWMF to test the operational viability and cost effectiveness of recovering the recyclables from the MSW prior to the incineration process.

Waste Transportation
For the artificial island near SKC, MSW compacted in tightly sealed containers and delivered by dedicated container vessels would be delivered by marine vessels from the existing refuse transfer stations including Island East Transfer Station, Island West Transfer Station and West Kowloon Transfer Station. For the Tsang Tsui Ash Lagoons site, MSW currently delivered to the berth of WENT Landfill by marine vessels or delivered directly to the WENT Landfill by land transport will be diverted from the WENT Landfill to the adjoining the Tsang Tsui Ash Lagoons site by land transport.

     
                    Waste container vessel

Waste Transportation Arrangement :


IWMF in Tsang Tsui Ash Lagoons site

IWMF in Shek Kwu Chau site

I·PARK1 Contract

The Design-Build-Operate (DBO) contract for I·PARK1 was awarded in November 2017. The I·PARK1 contract includes a 15-year operation period.

Artist's Impression of the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1

Key features of the DBO contract:-

• design and construction of reclamation of about 16 hectares to form an artificial island near SKC and related works;
• design, construction and operation of an MSW incineration plant with a maximum treatment capacity of 3,000 tonnes per day;
• design, construction and operation of a mechanical sorting and recycling facility with a maximum treatment capacity of 200 tonnes per day;
• design and construction of associated architectural, building, civil and landscape works;
• design and installation of the electrical and mechanical works for the waste receiving and sorting facilities, waste incineration, heat recovery, power generation, pollution control and ash treatment systems;
• design and construction of mechanical and electrical works for utility services facilities including a desalination plant and a wastewater treatment plant.;
• design, construction and operation of power connection and export system; and
• provision of pollution control and environmental monitoring facilities.

Project progress:-

• Waste-to-energy facility I·PARK1's first giant electrical and mechanical equipment module arrives in Hong Kong
• Prefabrication of modules for waste-to-energy facility I·PARK1 completed
• Waste-to-energy facility I·PARK1 trial operation proceeds smoothly

Environmental Education Facilities

I·PARK1 will feature environmental education facilities that provide the public with information and demonstration on waste management in Hong Kong. Drawing on experience from the T·PARK, guided tours will be offered to help visitors understand the advanced waste-to-energy technologies and appreciate the unique environmental features of I·PARK1.

The environmental education facilities will be designed to give visitors an overview of the main components of I·PARK1, along with close-up learning experience at key areas such as the incineration process, flue gas treatment process, mechanical sorting and recycling facility and the central control room of the facility. In addition, ferry services will be provided between I·PARK1 and Cheung Chau/Central offering greater convenience for visitors.

 

Environmental Protection and Ecological Enhancement

I·PARK1 will recover heat energy from the MSW incineration process to produce about 480 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of surplus electricity (amounts to about 1% of the total electricity consumption in Hong Kong) for export to the existing power grid in Hong Kong every year. The surplus electricity, which is equivalent to the output of 400 largest solar farms in Hong Kong at Siu Ho Wan Sewage Treatment Works, will be sufficient for use by 100,000 households.

Through the replacement of fossil fuel in electricity generation and reduction in the volume of MSW for landfill disposal, it is estimated that about 440,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emission per year can be curtailed.

Surplus Electricity Export

Before the construction works of I·PARK1 starts near SKC, baseline monitoring surveys for Finless Porpoise, White-bellied Sea Eagle and hard coral have been conducted to determine their baseline conditions to ascertain the utilisation of the area by Finless Porpoise, the presence and breeding status of White-bellied Sea Eagle in the Shek Kwu Chau area and the number and location of hard coral colonies within the potentially affected areas according to the approved Environmental Monitoring & Audit Manual. These baseline monitoring surveys have been used to formulate the coral translocation plan and the detailed monitoring programme and mitigation measures to avoid disturbance to Finless Porpoise and White-bellied Sea Eagle during construction and operation.

Finless Porpoise Monitoring

Coral Survey
 

White-bellied Sea Eagle Monitoring

The artificial island near SKC is mainly constructed by non-dredged method to minimize water quality impact. The marine deposits underlying the reclamation, including the seawalls and breakwaters, are left in place to avoid dumping of dredged marine deposits.

An advanced ground treatment method, i.e. deep cement mixing (DCM) is used to reinforce the marine mud in situ to control settlements and movements of the reclamation to within acceptable limits and to ensure that the construction of the artificial island can be completed within a reasonable time frame.

The DCM has been designed to ensure that the reclamation is safe and any residual settlements and movements will not affect the operation and service of I·PARK1. Precast concrete structure has been used for the seawall and breakwater construction to minimize underwater acoustic disturbance to Finless Porpoise and water quality impacts during construction.

Deep Cement Mixing

Eco-shoreline at I·PARK1 Facing Shek Kwu Chau

Cavities and Marine Organisms along the Eco-shoreline of I·PARK1

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I·PARK1 has been designed with a net zero discharge of wastewater by equipping with a wastewater treatment plant on-site to provide treatment to wastewater generated from the facilities for reuse in the incineration plant and the mechanical sorting and recycling facility or for washdown and landscape irrigation in I·PARK1.

Water Balance Schematic Diagram

Finless Porpoise, a species of conservation interest, is protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) and the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong. The waters of South Lantau including the area near Shek Kwu Chau are an important habitat for Finless Porpoise. To compensate for the permanent loss of 31 hectares habitat for Finless Porpoise as a result of the reclamation works and breakwater construction for I·PARK1, a compensatory marine park with an area of 797 hectares was proposed to be established in the waters between Soko Islands and Shek Kwu Chau.

Habitat Ratings of Finless Porpoises between 2005 and 2014

In the immediate vicinity of the proposed compensatory marine park, there was a proposed Soko Islands Marine Park initiated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department with an area of approximately 1,270 hectares for conserving important habitats of Chinese White Dolphin and Finless Porpoise, where the waters of Soko Islands are considered a unique location with both Chinese White Dolphin and Finless Porpoise regularly sighted.

The proposed South Lantau Marine Park

To achieve better synergy in the future management and operation of the marine parks, and taking into account the sizable movement ranges and high mobility of Chinese White Dolphin and Finless Porpoise, it was proposed to combine the proposed compensatory marine park and the proposed Soko Islands Marine Park into a larger single marine park of approximately 2,067 hectares, namely the South Lantau Marine Park. The South Lantau Marine Park was designated on 30 June 2022.

Deployment of artificial reefs and release of fish fry and fingerlings have been proposed with a view to enhancing the fisheries resources in South Lantau waters. The artificial reefs are recommended to be deployed at the core area of the South Lantau Marine Park where all fishing activities are prohibited, so that the aggregated fisheries resources can be adequately protected.

The Proposed Location of Artificial Reefs Deployment

Suggested designs of prefabricated concrete artificial reef units

In addition, fish fry and fingerlings will be released at the artificial reefs to be deployed within the South Lantau Marine Park and at the eco-shoreline constructed under I·PARK1 to further enhance the fisheries resources in South Lantau waters.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the artificial reefs deployment and fish restocking as fisheries enhancement measures, a series of monitoring works including fisheries resources monitoring by gill netting and hand lining, artificial reef structural monitoring by side-scan sonar and fish restocking monitoring by hand lining will be conducted.

Restocking of fish fry / fingerlings at artificial reefs

Material Recovery

Mechanical Sorting and Recycling Facility

The mechanical sorting and recycling facility makes use of automatic waste sorting technology to recover useful resources, such as ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal, plastics and glass, from up to 200 tonnes of MSW per day.

Mechanical Sorting and Recycling Facility

Bottom Ash

During the incineration process, the non-combustible residue of combustion in the incineration system, i.e. bottom ash, will be collected and magnetic separators will extract ferrous metals from the bottom ash for recovery. Opportunities for recycling or other beneficial use of the bottom ash will be further explored.

Bottom Ash Treatment

 

Architectural and Landscaping Design

The architectural and landscaping design of I·PARK1 embraces the environmental philosophy of "Green, Clean and Lean" so as to blend in with the surrounding environment. I·PARK1 has acquired the green building rating accreditation of BEAM Plus Provisional Platinum for the project in 2024.

Community Liaison