XN000022-1995-04-03 — Page 8

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Opening of the Sha Tin Transfer Station

Sha Tin Transfer Station, the first refuse transfer station built in the New Territories, is officially opened today (Monday).

The $200-million station is part of the Government's long-term waste management strategy under which three strategic landfills and a network of transfer stations are planned to meet Hong Kong's waste disposal needs in the next 15 to 20

years.

Situated near the Shek Mun Quarry and with a design capacity of handling 1,000 tonnes of refuse per day, the transfer station provides a cost effective transfer system for waste arisings in Sha Tin, Tai Po and North districts.

Wastes collected in these areas and delivered to the transfer station will be compacted and containerised before being transported to the West New Territories landfill for disposal.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sha Tin District Board Chairman, Mr Choy Kan-pui, said this method of bulk transportation of waste would greatly reduce environmental nuisances.

He noted that the transfer station would be operated to very high environmental standards whereby all air and effluent emissions from the facility would be properly treated before discharge.

The modern facilities at the station include an exhaust ventilation system, a wastewater treatment plant, a computerised weighbridge system, a vehicle wash system and three live floor/compactor systems for handling refuse.

The project has been developed under a "design, built and operate" contract agreement under which the contractor, the Swire BFI Waste Services Ltd., is responsible for all aspects of the facility over a 15-year operating period.

The Sha Tin Transfer Station is the third refuse transfer station commissioned by the Environmental Protection Department. The first one was commissioned in Kowloon Bay in 1990 serving the East Kowloon area while the second one, Island East Transfer Station, was commissioned in 1992 serving the Hong Kong Island.

End/Monday, April 3, 1995

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