XN000022-1997-01-29 — Page 61

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CWTC offers waste producers a price competitive service

Following is a question by the Hon James Tien and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that the year-on-year increase in the cost-recovery rate for chemical waste treatment by the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) has resulted in the manufacturers significantly reducing the amount of chemical waste sent to the CWTC for disposal. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

whether the charges imposed by the CWTC are higher than the cost incurred by the manufacturers using their own facilities to dispose of chemical waste; if so, how much higher; and

of the other reasons, apart from the gradual increases in the charges imposed by the CWTC, that have prompted the manufacturers to reduce using the services provided by the CWTC and use their own facilities to dispose of chemical waste?

We do not have the data to compare the charges imposed by the CWTC with individual costs incurred by different manufacturers treating their wide range of chemical wastes with their own facilities. Experience shows that the CWTC generally offers waste producers a price competitive service for highly concentrated wastes containing multiple chemical compounds that are difficult to treat in an environmentally acceptable manner.

It is difficult to speculate on the reasons why some manufacturers treat their own waste. The CWTC charges certainly provide an economic incentive to manufacturers to upgrade technology, minimise waste generation and improve waste management practices. Furthermore, manufacturers are increasingly incorporating environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques and processes in their operations, having recognised the growing importance that customers, both corporate and individual, place on this. I very much welcome this development.

End