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Press
Release
Expressions
of Interest invited for development of waste management and
treatment facilities
The Government
today (April 26) issued an invitation for Expressions of Interest
(EOI) from local and international organisations to provide
appropriate technologies for the management and treatment
of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Hong Kong.
A spokesman
for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said: "The
aim is to find ways to further minimise the amount of waste
that must be disposed of in our landfills. The emphasis is
on state-of-the-art technologies and practices which can provide
clear technical, environmental, economic and social benefits
to Hong Kong."
Hong Kong
is served by a network of three mega landfills and eight refuse
transfer stations which collectively handle more than 3.4
million tonnes of MSW each year.
The waste
management system has been relying on disposal at landfills
which have a finite remaining lifespan of 10 to 15 years if
waste continues to grow at the current trend.
"Our
key focus in recent years has been on waste reduction and
recycling, and we have had encouraging results. But this alone
cannot deal with the increasing waste problem. Also, not all
waste is recyclable.
"Sustainable
waste treatment facility(ies) are needed to further reduce
the volume of waste that has to go to our landfills.
"The Government
is keen to attract proven but innovative technologies that
can meet the highest environmental standards and which are
also cost effective, " the spokesman noted.
Submissions
need not cover all aspects of MSW management. Proposals that
focus only on one aspect of treatment technology but are capable
of being integrated into a coherent waste management system
will also be considered.
This call
for EOI is an exercise simply to receive proposals for providing
various technologies for the treatment and disposal of MSW
in Hong Kong. It does not form part of any procurement or
tender pre-qualification exercise.
It is
expected, however, that the outcome of the EOI exercise will
help the Government determine what type of facilities will
be best to acquire for Hong Kong.
An Advisory
Group (AG) will be set up to assist the Government in considering
the EOI submissions.
The AG
would comprise mainly representatives of the Advisory Council
on the Environment, the Waste Reduction Committee, members
of professional institutions and academia, as well as community
personalities.
Documentation
for making EOI submissions can be downloaded from the EPD
website at http://www.info.gov.hk/epd. The documents can also
be obtained from the EPD on the third floor, West Wing, 88
Victoria Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong.
Those
who wish to get the documents or further information can also
contact the EPD by phone at 2872 1631, by fax at 2591 0636
or by email to iwmf@epd.gov.hk.
All EOI
submissions have to reach the EPD by 12 noon on July 26, 2002.
End/Friday,
April 26, 2002
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