XN000022-1987-10-18 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1987

TIGHTER CONTROL ON CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL

MEASURES ARE BEING DRAWN UP ΤΟ STRENGTHEN CONTROLS ON THE DISPOSAL OF CHEMICAL WASTES, ACCORDING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT'S PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER (LIQUID AND SOLID WASTE), DR. MICHAEL CHIU.

SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF A PHOTOGRAPHY AND POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE ROTARACT CLUB OF VICTORIA TODAY (SUNDAY), DR. CHIU SAID LOCAL COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY PRODUCED SOME 40,000 TONNES OF CHEMICAL WASTE A YEAR.

DR. CHIU SAID THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED ΤΟ PRESCRIBE CHEMICAL WASTES FOR TIGHTER CONTROL UNDER THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE AND DRAFTING OF THE NECESSARY REGULATIONS HAS REACHED AN ADVANCED STAGE.

THE PROPOSED CONTROLS WOULD REQUIRE THE WASTE PRODUCERS ΤΟ NOTIFY THE AUTHORITY PRIOR TO DISPOSAL. A TRIP TICKET SYSTEM WOULD BE INTRODUCED AND ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION, COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF THESE WASTES WOULD NEED TO INFORM THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR ACTIONS VIA FULL DOCUMENTATION.

THE ORDINANCE WOULD ALSO EMPOWER THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE LICENCES FOR SPECIFIC WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES IN RESPECT OF PARTICULAR LAND AREAS IN HONG KONG.

DR. CHIU SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD INTENDED TO DEVELOP A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT PLANT WHICH WOULD INCLUDE TREATMENT PROCESSES FOR INORGANIC AQUEOUS WASTES, HIGH TEMPERATURE INCINERATION OF ORGANIC WASTES, AND OILY WASTE RECOVERY. THE PLANT WOULD BE DESIGNED, BUILT, MANAGED AND OPERATED BY AN INTERNATIONALLY EXPERIENCED WASTE DISPOSAL CONTRACTOR.

A CO-DISPOSAL PROJECT (THE DISPOSAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTE AND CHEMICAL WASTES IN A CONTROLLED MANNER) WAS INTENDED TO BE DEVELOPED AT THE JUNK BAY LANDFILL SITE.

IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE CO-DISPOSAL OPERATION PROPERLY, DR. CHIU SAID IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SET UP THE NECESSARY CONTROL MEASURES AND DEVELOP SUITABLE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES.

AN INVESTIGATION WAS CARRIED OUT JOINTLY BY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND A SPECIALIST CONSULTANT, INCLUDING LABORATORY, PILOT SCALE AND FULL SCALE TRIALS OF THE CO-DISPOSAL OF VARIETY OF CHEMICAL WASTES. WHEN COMPLETED IN 1988, THE INVESTIGATION WOULD PROVIDE DATA ESSENTIAL FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF CO-DISPOSAL FACILITIES, AND

IN PARTICULAR RECOMMEND MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE LOADING RATES (I.E. AMOUNT OF DIFFICULT MATERIAL WHICH WOULD BE SAFELY DISPOSED) FOR CERTAIN SPECIFIC TYPES OF WASTES.

DR. CHIU URGED THE PUBLIC TO HAVE GREATER AWARENESS ON

POLLUTION CONTROL.

"POLLUTION CONTROL IS NOT THE TASK FOR THE GOVERNMENT WE NEED THE CO-OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC FROM ALL SECTORS."

ALONE,

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