|
Press
Release
EPD
refutes false claims about methane from WENT Landfill
In response
to a newspaper report, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection
Department (EPD) said today (July 26) that it was incorrect
to say that methane emitted from the West New Territories
(WENT) Landfill was allowed to migrate to nearby areas and
affect the health of Ha Pak Nai villagers.
The spokesman
said the EPD had been closely monitoring the landfill operation
to ensure that the most stringent environmental standards
were met.
"A total
of 139 on-site and off-site monitoring points, including two
at Ha Pak Nai Tsuen, have been set up for monitoring the environmental
quality at the landfill and nearby areas.
"Among
various environmental standards, the EPD monitors the air
quality including landfill gas, which contains mostly methane,
generated by the landfill.
"No landfill
gas has been allowed to migrate outside the landfill site,"
the spokesman noted.
The landfill
gas generated within the landfill is collected through an
extraction system. Part of the collected landfill gas is utilised
within the landfill for power generation and treatment of
leachate. The remaining portion is completely flared for safety
reasons and prevention of air pollution problems.
The spokesman
added that the EPD would continue to conduct site inspections
at least three times a day and that the inspections would
cover the landfill and areas in the vicinity, including Ha
Pak Nai Tsuen.
In order
to reduce the period of waste being exposed to the air to
prevent odour nuisance, the waste disposed of at the WENT
Landfill is immediately spread and compacted in layers.
If a
nuisance is detected, the EPD will require the landfill contractor
to take immediate action to eliminate it.
"A hotline
at 2472 4386 has been set up for the public, including villagers
from Ha Pak Nai Tsuen, to report any nuisance suspected to
be related to the WENT Landfill for the EPD to take immediate
follow-up actions," the spokesman added.
End/Thursday,
July 26, 2001
| 
