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The Department has previously examined the possibility of requiring all persons who convey refuse through the streets to use plastic bags in order to reduce the nuisance of smell and unsightliness. However, if the Council were to adopt the practice of issuing, free of charge, large plastic bags for this purpose, it is estimated that it would cost rate-payers between $60 and $70 million a year. In view of the high cost, the Chairman of the Urban Council said at the Urban Council meeting held on 20 October 1981, that this was too expensive a scheme for the Council to embark on at this time.
As an alternative, the Department is examining the possibility of introducing legislation which will require people to provide their own plastic bags or other impervious containers for the purpose of disposing of refuse.
However, as there is no legislation at present which requires people to put their refuse in plastic bags prior to delivery to a refuse collection point, the Department is not in a position to enforce their use. But this does not mean that there is no control over the manner in which refuse should be handled. Under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances By-laws, persons are required to cover litter when carrying it through the streets or in any public place, and U.S.D. staff take out prosecutions against persons found infringing these by-laws. So far, 182 such prosecutions have been taken out this year. On the positive side, the staff encourage householders, hawkers, restaurant operators, and others to put their refuse in plastic bags or other covered containers which can be put into the refuse collection vehicles intact.
Many people already put their refuse in plastic bags or other containers, and I would like to take this opportunity to urge all members of the public to follow this practice.
It might be of interest to Members to know that in an attempt to improve the storage of refuse at off-street permanent refuse collection points, the Department is experimenting with the use of large rectangular bins with close fitting lids for the storage of refuse. The refuse is emptied direct from the bins into the refuse collection vehicles. The trial is proving to be fairly successful, in that the bins greatly improve the environmental hygiene at the refuse collection points, and the Department is taking action to extend their use.
(Mr. Augustine S. K. CHUNG arrived at this point.)
MR. SULKE (in English): Can I ask, how long it would take to introduce legislation to require people to provide standardized plastic bags for the disposal of refuse?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, on the question of legislation, at the soonest, it may take a few months or at the longest it could take a few years. When we ask the Government to consider legislation, we must also step up action to urge members of the public to pay closer attention to environmental hygiene and to co-operate with us to put their refuse in plastic containers or plastic bags. In other countries, there is no such legislation but people do put their refuse into plastic bags.
MR. SULKE (in English): Mr. Chairman, in other countries, the garbage is not collected unless it is in plastic bags. Therefore, there is no legislation necessary.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, Hong Kong is different from other European countries, but we all understand that if refuse is put into plastic bags, then it would greatly help the environmental hygiene and I remember that before October, our E.N.H. Committee also considered the question of using plastic bags for the storage of refuse. Over 10 years ago, in 1967, when there were bombs everywhere, and this measure was not taken because people may take the plastic bags containing refuse to be faked bombs. Therefore, I do hope that in future, there could be some definite reply as to when this legislation can be enacted.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, is there any legislation preventing or asking hawkers to dispose of refuse which they dump in front of their stalls.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I think we will have to ask the help of the hawkers and since we are carrying out the Clean Hong Kong Campaign, we may be able to get greater support. In the past, I remember that each hawker stall was provided with a bin or some sort of container to contain refuse, but then it was not enforced vigorously. As you are all aware, in the Clean Hong Kong Campaign, it is difficult to cope with hawking areas, there were a lot of unpleasant instances and I think we would have to persuade them patiently.
MRS. GRACE HO (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, another question is, although many people place their refuse in plastic bags, while the refuse is being collected, the Urban Services Department staff often open the plastic bags, and pick out refuse which is of commercial value for resale. Is this a problem?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, this problem has existed for quite a number of years, and even in front of the City Hall, I saw people picking out items of value from the refuse and I urged the Urban Services Department staff to take disciplinary action. I heard that the situation has greatly improved but it is not just our staff, but maybe the staff employed by private refuse contractors also pick out the items which can be resold. I think this will definitely affect the environment around the refuse collection points. But I will urge the department to step up their action, especially disciplinary action.
2. MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG asked the following question (in Cantonese): (a) With the Clean Hong Kong Campaign now in its operational stage, I should like to know if it is Council's policy to have residents on multi-storey buildings deliver their own refuse to refuse collection points?
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Page 65 of 146
T
88
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Department has previously examined the possibility of requiring all persons who convey refuse through the streets to use plastic bags in order to reduce the nuisance of smell and unsightliness. However, if the Council were to adopt the practice of issuing, free of charge, large plastic bags for this purpose, it is estimated that it would cost rate-payers between $60 and $70 million a year. In view of the high cost, the Chairman of the Urban Council said at the Urban Council meeting held on 20 October 1981, that this was too expensive a scheme for the Council to embark on at this time.
As an alternative, the Department is examining the possibility of introducing legislation which will require people to provide their own plastic bags or other impervious containers for the purpose of disposing of refuse.
However, as there is no legislation at present which requires people to put their refuse in plastic bags prior to delivery to a refuse collection point, the Department is not in a position to enforce their use. But this does not mean that there is no control over the manner in which refuse should be handled. Under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances By-laws, persons are required to cover litter when carrying it through the streets or in any public place, and U.S.D. staff take out prosecutions against persons found infringing these by-laws. So far, 182 such prosecutions have been taken out this year. On the positive side, the staff encourage householders, hawkers, restaurant operators, and others to put their refuse in plastic bags or other covered containers which can be put into the refuse collection vehicles intact.
Many people already put their refuse in plastic bags or other containers, and I would like to take this opportunity to urge all members of the public to follow this practice.
It might be of interest to Members to know that in an attempt to improve the storage of refuse at off-street permanent refuse collection points, the Department is experimenting with the use of large rectangular bins with close fitting lids for the storage of refuse. The refuse is emptied direct from the bins into the refuse collection vehicles. The trial is proving to be fairly successful, in that the bins greatly improve the environmental hygiene at the refuse collection points, and the Department is taking action to extend their use.
(Mr. Augustine S. K. CHUNG arrived at this point.)
MR. SULKE (in English):-Can I ask, how long it would take to introduce legislation to require people to provide standardized plastic bags for the disposal of refuse?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, on the question of legislation, at the soonest, it may take a few months or at the longest it could take a few years. When we ask the Government to consider legislation, we must also step up action to urge members of the public to pay closer attention to environmental hygiene and to co-operate with us to put their refuse in plastic containers or
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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plastic bags. In other countries, there is no such legislation but people do put their refuse into plastic bags.
MR. SULKE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, in other countries, the garbage is not collected unless it is in plastic bags. Therefore, there is no legislation necessary.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, Hong Kong is different from other European countries, but we all understand that if refuse is put into plastic bags, then it would greatly help the environmental hygiene and I remember that before October, our E.N.H. Committee also considered the question of using plastic bags for the storage of refuse. Over 10 years ago, in 1967, when there were bombs everywhere, and this measure was not taken because people may take the plastic bags containing refuse to be faked bombs. Therefore, I do hope that in future, there could be some definite reply as to when this legislation can be enacted.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, is there any legislation preventing or asking hawkers to dispose of refuse which they dump in front of their stalls.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I think we will have to ask the help of the hawkers and since we are carrying out the Clean Hong Kong Campaign, we may be able to get greater support. In the past, I remember that each hawker stall was provided with a bin or some sort of container to contain refuse, but then it was not enforced vigorously. As you are all aware, in the Clean Hong Kong Campaign, it is difficult to cope with hawking areas, there were a lot of unpleasant instances and I think we would have to persuade them patiently.
Mrs. Grace Ho (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, another question is, although many people place their refuse in plastic bags, while the refuse is being collected, the Urban Services Department staff often open the plastic bags, and pick out refuse which is of commercial value for resale. Is this a problem?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, this problem has existed for quite a number of years, and even in front of the City Hall, I saw people picking out items of value from the refuse and I urged the Urban Services Department staff to take disciplinary action. I heard that the situation has greatly improved but it is not just our staff, but maybe the staff employed by private refuse contractors also pick out the items which can be resold. I think this will definitely affect the environment around the refuse collection points. But I will urge the department to step up their action, especially disciplinary action.
2. MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG asked the following question (in Cantonese):- (a) With the Clean Hong Kong Campaign now in its operational stage, I should like to know if it is Council's policy to have residents on multi-storey buildings deliver their own refuse to refuse collection points?
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