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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1988
LIVESTOCK WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE IN MUI WO
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THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TODAY (WEDNESDAY} RENEWED A CONTRACT TO CONTINUE THE LIVESTOCK WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE IN THE MUI WO AREA OF LANTAU ISLAND.
TRIS FREE LIVESTOCK WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO MUI WO SINCE DECEMBER 22 LAST YEAR AND RESPONSE FROM THE LOCAL FARMERS HAS BEEN FAVOURABLE.
AN EPD SPOKESMAN SAID THE COLLECTION SERVICE, PROVIDED IN THE AREA IN ADVANCE OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME, IS AIMED AT ENCOURAGING FARMERS AND ENABLING THEM TO PRACTISE THE DRY MUCK-OUT METHOD, AND THEREBY COMPLY WITH THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS CONTROLLING POLLUTION FROM LIVESTOCK WASTE.
THIS ALSO HELPS TO REDUCE POLLUTION OF THE SEA AT THE SILVERMINE BAY BEACH.
ABOUT HALF OF THE 33 FARMS IN MUI WO ARE CURRENTLY MAKING USE OF THE SERVICE BY DELIVERING LIVESTOCK MANURE TO THE 22 COLLECTION POINTS SET UP BY EPD FOR COLLECTION BY THE CONTRACTOR.
THE COLLECTED MANURE IS SENT TO THE CONSOLIDATION PLANT IN MUI WO FOR PROCESSING INTO A MORE STABLE PRODUCT BEFORE IT IS BAGGED AND TRANSFERRED TO TSING YI BY BARGES THROUGH THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES.
THE CONSOLIDATED MANURE IS SUBSEQUENTLY DELIVERED TO THE EPD'S COMPOSTING PLANT AT NGAU TAM MEI FOR FINAL PROCESSING INTO A USEFUL AND VALUABLE PRODUCT SUITABLE FOR USE AS SOIL CONDITIONER AND
FERTILISER.
EVERY DAY, ABOUT 0.7 TONNE OF FRESH MANURE IS COLLECTED FROM THE FARMS.
UNDER THE WASTE DISPOSAL (AMENDMENT} ORDINANCE 1987, A LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN MUI WO FROM JUNE 24.
DRY
IT IS EXPECTED THAT FARMERS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE MUCK-OUT METHOD CAN MAKE FULL USE OF THE COLLECTION SERVICE AND CONTINUE LIVESTOCK FARMING IN THE AREA WITHOUT CAUSING POLLUTION ΤΟ THE ENVIRONMENT.
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