Response to reader's letter relating to the technology of integrated waste management facility

Letter to the Editor of South China Morning Post - Response to reader's letter relating to the technology of integrated waste management facility

Dear Sir,

We would like to respond to Mr Frank Lee’s letter (SCMP, August 5) and Mr Charlie Chan’s letter (SCMP, August 13) regarding Green Island Cement (Holdings)’s (GIC) proposal to develop a waste incineration facility in Tuen Mun.

Since the early 2000’s, GIC has asked the government to adopt eco-co-combustion technology and develop a facility at their cement plant site in Tuen Mun to treat 4 800 tonnes municipal solid waste (MSW) each day. The Environmental Protection Department had reviewed the technology and the findings and conclusions were made known to the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) and Legislative Council. The relevant papers are available on-line.

This technology has not been used for MSW treatment anywhere in the world to treat large tonnages. Although GIC had conducted a trial at a scale of several tonnes per day for about 2 months in 2005, it did not cover all the eco-co-combustion process.

Moreover, potential market risk associated with cement production demand will affect its reliability to treat MSW. The recommendation not to adopt this technology for the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 was endorsed by the ACE in December 2009.

Furthermore, since there are a number of existing emission sources in the vicinity of the cement plant and it is not far from the population clusters in Tuen Mun, GIC should first conduct a thorough EIA study to address the concern about cumulative air quality impact of the proposal if it is to be considered further. This has not been done. GIC would also need to address the land use issue and public acceptability of their proposal.

We have explained to GIC that if it is serious about this project, it needs to first deal with technical feasibility and reliability, environmental acceptability and planning issues. At this stage, it is premature to state that the GIC proposal is a viable solution readily available to assist in alleviating Hong Kong's pressing MSW problem.

The Government’s "Hong Kong: Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022" points out the value of resources that can be recovered from waste. It maps out a comprehensive strategy and action plans for waste reduction, reuse, recovery, waste-to-energy (modern incineration) and landfilling. Each waste management initiative contributes to the whole strategy. We need the joint efforts of the entire community and the cooperation with the business sector for the benefit of Hong Kong.



Elvis W. K. Au,
Assistant Director of Environmental Protection