| Press
Release
Transboundary
e-waste movements under effective control
In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) said today (August 15) that Hong Kong
was committed to curbing illegal transboundary movements of electronic
wastes (e-wastes).
He pointed out
that there might be a misconception that all e-wastes or second-hand
electronic and electrical appliances were hazardous.
"In fact, only
e-wastes containing or contaminated by hazardous components are
considered hazardous under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO),"
he noted.
Common hazardous
e-wastes such as waste computer monitors and TV sets with cathode
ray tube display are listed under the Seventh Schedule of the WDO.
Import and export of such wastes are subject to permit control.
Under the WDO,
export or import of hazardous wastes without a permit is an offence
liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment
upon conviction.
"As for non-hazardous
e-wastes, they are considered recyclable wastes under both the WDO
and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements
of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. Some examples of such wastes
include computer casings, wires, electronic components, etc.
"There is international
consensus that their recycling should be promoted and that their
movements should be facilitated through less stringent import and
export control," the spokesman said.
The WDO control
is in line with this concept. Second-hand or used electronic and
electrical appliances are not waste and do not fall into the ambit
of the WDO control. Their import and export do not require a permit
under the WDO.
The spokesman
said: "The EPD inspects shipments of e-wastes and used electronic
and electrical goods on a regular basis to guard against hazardous
shipments in the disguise of second-hand goods or non-hazardous
e-wastes.
"There is also
close vigilance through the enforcement network between the EPD
and the Customs and Excise Department at various local control points
and illegal e-waste export black spots."
Movements of
hazardous e-wastes are under tight scrutiny in Hong Kong. Since
the introduction of WDO control on import and export of wastes in
1996, there have been 41 prosecutions against illegal movements
of hazardous e-wastes, resulting in 37 convictions. In the past
12 months, there were three similar convictions.
"The EPD has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Environmental
Protection Administration (SEPA) in 2000 on the control of transboundary
movements of hazardous wastes.
"Since then,
movement of hazardous wastes between Hong Kong and the Mainland
need to follow the prior notification and consent system same as
that promulgated by the Basel Convention.
"No permit has
been issued to any hazardous e-waste shipments between the two places
so far," he noted.
The Mainland
has officially banned the import of e-wastes in August last year.
"Following the
ban, the Mainland and Hong Kong authorities agreed in March this
year to step up enforcement against e-wastes smuggling activities.
"We would inform
the Mainland authorities of dubious shipments with e-wastes or used
electronic and electrical appliances from Hong Kong to the Mainland
for follow-up investigation."
In addition,
the EPD, the Customs and Excise Department, the SEPA and the Mainland
customs authorities have been conducting joint operations against
e-waste smuggling since June 2003. The Mainland authorities have
intercepted and detained a number of shipments after being informed
by us.
The spokesman
said: "In fact, waste prevention and recovery has been our main
focus to tackle the waste problem.
"For electronic
and electrical items, we have been collaborating with the recycling
trade, green groups and district organisations to examine measures
to foster reuse and recycling of such items."
For example,
the EPD has, together with two voluntary organisations, launched
a pilot recovery and recycling programme for computers and electrical
appliances in January this year.
The EPD will
take into account the results and experience of the pilot programme
in examining the feasibility of developing larger-scale recycling
programmes in Hong Kong.
"We have started
discussion with the relevant trade to explore the possibility of
introducing relevant product responsibility schemes for e-wastes
in Hong Kong.
"Moreover, we
have injected $100 million into the Environment and Conservation
Fund, mainly for district organisations and green groups to organise
community waste recovery projects.
Interested organisations
can apply for the Fund to organise recycling programmes for electronic
and electrical items," he noted.
"Separately,
we have been implementing measures to facilitate the development
of the local recycling industry.
"For example,
we have been providing land under short-term tenancy for recycling
operation.
"We are also
planning for the establishment of a 20-hectare Recovery Park in
Tuen Mun to provide a long-term site for recycling operation," the
spokesman added.
End/Friday,
August 15, 2003
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