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Press Release
Implementation of construction waste disposal charges
The Environmental Protection Department today (January 26) called on construction waste lorry drivers to co-operate with the department to ensure the smooth running of the landfill sites in public interest.
A spokesman of the department said the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme took effect on January 20.
Since the enactment of the legislation last year, the Government had been maintaining close liaison with the trade in working out operational arrangements for the construction contractors and waste haulers to open billing accounts and to pay in advance.
He pointed out that dry runs involving the construction industry and the haulers were carried out at the government disposal facilities since July last year in order to allow the trade to familiarize themselves with the operational details and to fine-tune the logistic arrangements. Most of those involved are familiar with these arrangements.
Up to January 26, the landfills had received a total of 2,004 lorry loads of waste with some construction waste content while the fill banks and sorting facilities had received a total of 10,860 lorry loads of wastes which are wholly or predominantly construction waste. So far, over 300,000 chits have been issued to account holders and the operation of the scheme has been generally smooth.
This morning, some 20 lorries blocked the operation of the sorting facilities and the Southeast New Territories Landfill (SENT) as they complained of operational problems causing delay in the transaction. This has caused long queues at the entrance.
Despite mediation by the Police, EPD and CEDD staff, the drivers insisted on blocking the operation at the weightbridge of the SENT and the sorting facilities. At about 3 pm, some lorries also blocked the entrance to the North East New Territories.
The spokesman said that the implementation of the construction waste disposal charges was at its early stage and needed fine-tuning. While the departments involved promised to sort out the operational problems so as to reduce the time of transaction, which is about 30 minutes at the moment, the lorry drivers should withhold from taking any action which would cause inconvenience to other users of landfill and sorting facilities. Otherwise the Police will clear all vehicles causing blockage.
He appealed to drivers that had taken part in the blockade action to cooperate with the Administration, to drive away the lorries so as not to affect other lorry drivers using the waste disposal facilities and to continue dialogue with the EPD.
Ends/Thursday, January 26, 2006
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