Waste

Mission

To safeguard the health and welfare of the community from adverse environmental effects associated with the handling and disposal of wastes by developing a sustainable waste management strategy, providing waste management facilities and enforcing the controls in the Waste Disposal Ordinance.

Tackling The Waste Problem From All Angles

Bags of municipal waste piled up at roadside waiting for collection and disposal.

Bags of municipal waste piled up at roadside waiting for collection and disposal.

A poster for the Programme on Source Separation of Waste targeted at the commercial and industrial sector. A poster for the Programme on Source Separation of Waste targeted at the commercial and industrial sector.

Waste is one of Hong Kong’s pressing problems. In the very near future – from 2014 onwards – our three strategic landfills will fill up one by one. We cannot afford to have rubbish piling up on the streets, so the Government has given top priority to averting such a crisis.

To effectively tackle our waste problem, we need to pursue a three-pronged strategy. The first priority is to reduce waste at source and promote recycling. Waste reduction/recycling facilities have been extended to more than 80 per cent of the population, covering schools, domestic premises and the commercial & industrial (C&I) sector. Second, modern treatment technologies have been proposed to upgrade our waste treatment capability. And third, the timely extension of landfills is necessary. In 2011 we made progress on all three fronts.

The amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) requiring disposal was 3.28 million tonnes, down 1.3 per cent from 2010 (when other types of waste are included, such as construction waste and dewatered sludge, the drop is even bigger – 2.6 per cent). This was part of a continuing trend. MSW consists of domestic and C&I waste, and domestic waste disposal alone has fallen by 15 per cent since 2004. Per capita rates of MSW disposal have also steadily dropped, from 1.37 kilograms per person per day in 2004 to 1.27 kilograms in 2011. These results have been achieved on the back of waste recovery programmes that have increased the percentage of recovered MSW from 45 per cent in 2006 to 48 per cent in 2011.

Disposal of Solid Waste at Landfills

Year 2010 2011 Increase/decrease
(million tonnes)

Municipal Solid Waste

  • (Domestic Waste)
  • (Commercial and Industrial Waste)

3.33

  • 2.24
  • 1.09

3.28

  • 2.18
  • 1.10

-1.3%

  • -2.7%
  • +1.5%
Construction Waste 1.31 1.22 -7.0%
Dewatered Sludge 0.34 0.34 +1.1%
Others 0.07 0.07 +1.2%
Total * 5.04 4.91 -2.6%

* Figures may not add up to total due to rounding off.

Our Growing Recycling Network

Hong Kong’s waste recovery rate has reached and is being maintained at a desirable level in recent years thanks to the participation by the public and businesses. Unfortunately, with a problem like waste, there is still much that we need to do to reduce the generation of waste in the first place, especially given the pressure on landfill space.

Compared to other major developed economies, Hong Kong’s performance on waste recovery is in the middle, behind Germany (63 per cent), South Korea (61 per cent) and Taipei (61 per cent), but ahead of Singapore (48 per cent), Britain (38 per cent), the U.S. (34 per cent) and Japan (21 per cent). However, we have very limited land resources so there is an urgent need to continue to reduce waste loads as much as possible.

The Programme on Source Separation of Waste (SSW) was launched in 2005 to bring waste separation facilities closer to people’s homes. It has achieved remarkable success. It now extends to 1 800 housing estates (80 per cent of Hong Kong’s population), and has helped to lift the domestic waste recovery rate from 14 per cent in 2004 to 38 per cent in 2011. In 2011 its reach was extended to 700 villages upon the completion of a one-year effort to bring waste separation bins to villages. The programme has also been adapted for the C&I sector, attracting 732 buildings.

Waste reduction and recycling are promoted to the public from a special vehicle that travels to housing estates and public locations around Hong Kong.

Waste reduction and recycling are promoted to the public from a special vehicle that travels to housing estates and public locations around Hong Kong.

Aerial view of the EcoPark layout.

Aerial view of the EcoPark layout.

Enlarge Aerial view of the EcoPark layout.

The SSW Programme provides a good bedrock for waste reduction, but there are still places that it cannot reach and waste items that it does not receive. In 2011 the Government launched the Community Recycling Network (CRN) to plug these gaps by providing additional collection points for recyclable waste items to further promote waste reduction and recycling at the community level.

The CRN brings recycling outlets closer to single-block buildings, which often do not have room for waste separation facilities. Community recycling centres are set up in sites operated by non-government organisations, which collect waste plastics from nearby single-block buildings. Some also have drop-off boxes for waste plastics, small waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and glass bottles. In addition, waste reduction promotion booths are being set up in busy locations on Sundays and three promotional vehicles are travelling around Hong Kong. Overall, more than 350 recycling points have been set up and the recovered waste is being sent to the Kowloon Bay Waste Recycling Centre, which will transfer the recyclable materials to the EcoPark for further processing.

To expand the types of wastes being recovered, the CRN promotes the recycling of wastes of low-commercial value, such as waste plastics, WEEE and glass bottles. Schools are also being invited to collect plastic bottles from students and their families, thus both reducing waste and raising awareness.

Ms Anissa Wong, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment (fifth from left, front row), and guests officiate at the Forum on Source Separation of Waste and Award Presentation Ceremony 2011.

Ms Anissa Wong, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment (fifth from left, front row), and guests officiate at the Forum on Source Separation of Waste and Award Presentation Ceremony 2011.

Producer Responsibilities

Children learn about waste reduction and recycling through interactive games set up at a publicity event and roving exhibition on the Extension of the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags.

Children learn about waste reduction and recycling through interactive games set up at a publicity event and roving exhibition on the Extension of the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags.

Producer responsibility schemes (PRS) engage manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers in managing waste from products. Hong Kong’s first mandatory PRS was a 50-cent environmental levy on plastic shopping bags, introduced in 2009 at about 3 000 major or chain supermarkets, convenience stores and personal health and beauty stores. With an encouraging 90 per cent reduction of plastic shopping bag usage at these outlets, the Government would like to extend its coverage to all retailers. The public was consulted in 2011 and gave general support to the extension. Legislation will now be drafted to implement the proposal.

On WEEE, the Government consulted the public in 2010 on options for a mandatory PRS and reported the results to the Legislative Council in 2011. The consultation addressed the coverage, collection, treatment and cost-sharing of WEEE and the proposals were generally supported by both the public and stakeholders. On the back of this feedback, the Government announced in 2011 that it would support the development of a local WEEE treatment plant at EcoPark to ensure proper recycling of WEEE collected from the PRS.

Four recycling bins placed near the entrance of a residential block; the light-green bin is for collecting glass bottles under the Pilot Programme on Source Separation of Glass Bottles.

Four recycling bins placed near the entrance of a residential block; the light-green bin is for collecting glass bottles under the Pilot Programme on Source Separation of Glass Bottles.

Glass bottles have been recovered under various voluntary schemes implemented by the hotel sector and other non government organisations, but there is much room to further promote the recycling of glass bottles. In 2011 the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and Hong Kong Housing Authority teamed up to launch the Pilot Programme on Source Separation of Glass Bottles at six public housing estates in East Kowloon. Light-green recycling bins for glass bottles have been placed in the lobbies or near the entrances of each residential block and the collected bottles will be recycled into glass sand for production of eco-paving blocks. The EPD also continued its support towards several other voluntary PRSs on computers, fluorescent lamps and rechargeable batteries.

One other key initiative to reduce waste at source was progressing in 2011. Overseas experience shows that charging for MSW disposal can encourage people to reduce waste, so the Government therefore prepared to consult the public on their views in 2012. Reducing waste at source requires more than the provision of recycling facilities. Behavioural change is the key to success. An economic incentive could be a viable means to induce such change.

Treating Different Kinds of Waste

The best recycling programme in the world still cannot eliminate waste completely – there will always be waste by-products that cannot be reused or recycled. The Government therefore plans to reduce the bulk of this remaining waste through modern treatment technologies, and to extend our landfills so they can continue to meet our disposal needs.

For waste treatment, we have proposed three facilities to tackle different aspects of our waste problem. One of these is the Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMF) Phase 1 that would adopt advanced incineration as core technology to treat mixed MSW that is not recyclable. An environmental impact assessment report (EIA) of two possible sites, at Tsang Tsui Ash Lagoons and an artificial island near Shek Kwu Chau, revealed no unacceptable health or environmental impacts and it was endorsed by the Advisory Council on the Environment in December 2011. The Government has decided to build the IWMF Phase 1 at the artificial island near Shek Kwu Chau after taking into account other factors such as overall distribution of waste management facilities in Hong Kong and transportation efficiency. It is hoped that the IWMF Phase 1 could be commissioned in 2020.

A second facility is the Organic Waste Treatment Facilities (OWTF) Phase 1, located at Siu Ho Wan on North Lantau, which had its EIA report approved in 2010. This facility will adopt biological technologies such as anaerobic digestion and composting to treat 200 tonnes of food waste each day. Hong Kong currently disposes of more than 3 000 tonnes of organic waste per day that could potentially be recycled for other beneficial uses, such as compost and biogas. A second phase of the OWTF is also being planned and when the two phases are both completed, they will treat 400-500 tonnes of organic waste each day and supply biogas-powered electricity to the power grid adequate for use by more than 7 000 households each year. Localised organic waste treatment is also being supported in a programme to promote onsite composting of food waste at housing estates (see also Community Awareness).

The third proposed facility is the Sludge Treatment Facility (STF). Hong Kong currently generates over 800 tonnes of sludge per day which is landfilled. When the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A is commissioned in 2014, that figure will rise to 1 400 tonnes per day and reach more than 2 000 tonnes per day by late 2020s. That additional pressure on landfill space will be eased through high-temperature incineration at the STF that reduces the volume of sludge by up to 90 per cent. The process will also generate heat energy that can be used for electricity generation. Detailed design and construction began in 2011 and the facility is expected to be commissioned in 2013.

Artistic outlook of the proposed Sludge Treatment Facility.

Artistic outlook of the proposed Sludge Treatment Facility.

Location map of the proposed Sludge Treatment Facility.

Trend of sludge arisings 2010-2020

Trend of sludge arisings 2010-2020

Enlarge Trend of sludge arisings 2010-2020See Data Trend of sludge arisings 2010-2020

We Still Need Disposal

Waste recovery and treatment are absolutely necessary to reduce waste, but they are not complete solutions. There will still be ash from incineration, items that cannot be recycled or incinerated and other residues. The only option for these is landfills.

Hong Kong’s three strategic landfills will soon be bursting at the seams. We urgently need to provide more landfill space. The simplest and most effective solution is to extend the capacity of the current landfills. Preparations at all three sites have included EIAs (which have all been approved), engineering feasibility studies and amended zoning plans.

Understandably, some communities living near the landfills have not been wholeheartedly in support of the extensions. We have assured them that the extensions will be built to stringent international standards so there will be no adverse impacts on the environment or public health. We are also engaging stakeholders through the process of continuous public involvement, which allows them to air their concerns on an ongoing basis. We will address these concerns as far as practicable, keeping in mind our goal of achieving a sustainable waste strategy – from source to landfill – that meets the needs of Hong Kong as a whole, as well as in local communities.

Members of the community visit SENT Landfill to get insight into landfill operations.

Members of the community visit SENT Landfill to get insight into landfill operations.

Looking Ahead

  • A public consultation will be launched on the introduction of municipal solid waste charges to help reduce waste.
  • A funding application for the IWMF Phase 1 development will be initiated.
  • Tendering will be completed for the Organic Waste Treatment Facilities Phase 1, and the EIA will be completed for Phase 2.
  • The Community Recycling Network will be expanded to include more recycling centres and collection points.
  • The necessary funding approval will be sought for the South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill Extension, North East New Territories (NENT) Landfill Extension and West New Territories (WENT) Landfill Extension. The pre-qualification for the NENT Landfill Extension will be conducted, whereas consultancy for the procurement of the other two Landfill Extensions will get underway.

Topical Issues