TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 198
F
WASTE DISPOSAL ESSENTIAL TO CITY DEVELOPMENT
******
THE CROWDED LIVING CONDITIONS SO APPARENT IN HONG KONG AND THE HOT AND HUMID CLIMATE FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR DICTATE THE PROMPT REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES AND THE PROVISION OF EFFECTIVE SEWERAGE.
FOR THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTES IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANY CITY,
WITHOUT SUCH SERVICES, INSANITARY, HAZARDOUS AND OFFENSIVE CONDITIONS COULD DEVELOP QUICKLY THREATENING HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF INHABITANTS.
THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED HONG KONG ENVIRONMENT 1985, THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, DISCLOSED THAT WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SERVICES ALREADY COVERED MOST PARTS OF THE TERRITORY, BUT POINTED OUT THAT THE NEED FOR THESE SERVICES WAS CHANGING ALL THE TIME.
FOR EXAMPLE, AS A RESULT OF INCREASING AFFLUENCE AND POPULATION, THE AMOUNT OF SOLID WASTE EACH DAY IS PROJECTED TO DOUBLE FROM 6 400 TONNES IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
THE REVIEW POINTED OUT THAT THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS AT JUNK BAY, TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN, TUEN MUN, TIN SHUI WAI AND ELSEWHERE, MEANT THAT PLACES WHERE WASTES ORIGINATED WERE CHANGING CONTINUALLY.
ANOTHER FACTOR THAT WAS GIVING RISE TO CHANGES IN THE NEED FOR WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL WAS THE PROGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF AIR AND WATER POLLUTION CONTROLS.
THE TREATMENT PROCESSES USED TO CONTROL POLLUTION THEMSELVES PRODUCED WASTES WHICH REQUIRED DISPOSAL. SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, PRODUCED SLUDGE AND ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS IN THE FLUE GAS STREAM FROM COAL-FIRED POWER STATIONS PRODUCED PULVER ISED FUEL ASH,
THUS, A NEW RANGE OF WASTES WAS BEING GENERATED THAT REQUIRED SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR DISPOSAL.
ALSO, MANY OF THE EXISTING WASTE DISPOSAL SITES WHICH WERE ACCEPTABLE WHEN PLANNED AND MANY POTENTIAL SITES EARMARKED FOR THE FUTURE WERE NOW UNACCEPTABLE AS THEY HAD BECOME ENGULFED BY THE ENDLESS TIDE OF URBAN EXPANSION, OR THEY DID NOT MEET THE RISING EXPECTATIONS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN RELATION TO THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT.
ADVERSE REACTION OF THE POPULATION TO EMISSIONS FROM INCINERATORS, TO POLLUTION OF BEACHES BY SEWAGE DISCHARGES OR TO THE DESECRATION OF PREVIOUSLY CLEAN STREAMS BY AGRICULTURAL WASTES, WERE EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONS THAT THE PUBLIC APPEARS INCREASINGLY LESS INCLINED TO TOLERATE.
/TO COPE