Page 63 of 126
107
106
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Considerations Other Than Monetary CostsIn Singapore where landfill sites are impossible to find, the option was taken even if the initial costs were higher. Hong Kong is not very much better off than Singapore in the shortage for landfill sites. This may have also been the rationale behind the decision for Macau whose Phase-1 of 2 incinerators has been in full operation since August 1992.
Additional Uses Of Incinerators For Disposal Of Non-Radioactive Hospital WastesWith very little additional expenses, the same incinerator plant can be adopted to dispose of clinical wastes in conjunction with the main bulk of domestic wastes. The clinical wastes, being packed in special containers will go into a special reception room where a geiger counter checking device will serve to pick up any radioactive contamination of the hospital wastes before delivered into the furnace via a conveyor belt through specially designed channel into the furnace, so that there will be no contamination of the surrounding areas.
Possible Use Of Reclaimed Land From Landfill Formed By Disposal Of Domestic WastesIt may be said that the land from landfill can be usefully employed and profitably sold. But because of the emission of methane gases and leaching, the land so formed will not be available for use for a period of at least 10 to 20 years. In Penang, building on top of such land revealed that the foundation became unstable. There were many incidents in UK whereby residents of the houses built on such land were scared by emission of toxic gases subsequently. Even if used as golf courses, the golfers were advised not to smoke on the course, because of the emission of the methane gas which is inflammable in nature.
Value Of Land And The Amount Of Land RequiredLand to be occupied by one incinerator is taken to be 20,000 m2. Whilst one transfer station in the landfill option is taken to be 10,000 m2, at least 640 acres of land would be required for a 20 years landfill. The value of land is taken to be HK$1,000 per square meter depending on the location of land used for the respective purposes.
Role Of Landfill In Disposal Of Solid WastesUndoubtedly, landfill will have its place in the overall disposal strategy of solid wastes. The chemically inert and non-organic construction wastes cannot be burnt, and will require landfill for disposal. The residual fly ash from incinerated waste still requires landfill for final disposal, though only 3% of its original volume of its domestic wastes and without any atmospheric chemical pollutions. The life span of landfill is therefore prolonged by ten times its capacity for disposal of other non-domestic wastes.
Page 63 of 126
Our RecommendationIt is recommended that two incinerators should be installed, one on the island and one in the new territory, with a reduced number of transfer stations. These will serve as a useful supplementary means for the disposal of domestic wastes, which will certainly relieve the strain on the capacity of the existing available landfill. It is a modern, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly means of disposing the domestic wastes.
Ladies and gentlemen, is there such a perfect incinerator available in the market? The answer is a definite 'Yes.' But it takes some foresight and environmentally enlightened willpower to make the right choice.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us pay salute to the high-tech and high-combustion incinerator for its complimentary role in disposal of domestic waste.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I am not a member of the Public Health Select Committee and I would rather leave it to others to express their preferences for the disposal of waste. However, as Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, I have had a very good lesson of what happens when the City Council is unable to provide the necessary money to keep incinerators running. When I was a member of the Delegation that visited the refuse incineration plant in Washington D.C. There were originally four separate sets of six incinerators. Three were closed down completely due to a lack of funds and in the final plant, only one incinerator was operating and that was on its last leg because again of poor maintenance. Also, I have a very clear impression that despite the public in Washington carefully separating the right recycling waste from other waste, it was largely to no avail because hardly any of it was in the end being recycled.
In Hong Kong, the duties in regard to waste disposal are divided. We, as the Council, are responsible for rubbish collection but only in part for what happens finally to the waste. In my opinion, this arrangement is or could easily become unsatisfactory. To misquote a famous Churchillian remark made during the great war, 'so long as the government provides the money, we can do the job.' Certainly, even now we do the job very much better than Washington D.C., the capital of the USA. I was really horrified by what I saw in this refuse incinerator plant. Even the smell was so bad that half the Delegation went back to the bus half way round the plant rather than taking the risk of permanent damage to the lungs or noses? Therefore, whilst I support the motion, I emphasise the words 'modern' and 'environmentally friendly'. Thank you.
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, at present the waste disposal method in Hong Kong is to transfer refuse to transfer stations, landfills and incinerators. But the Government is of the view that incinerators affect the environment of Hong Kong because during the combustion process, toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide will be released. Some metal such as mercury and lead as well as ashes will also
Page 63 of 126
Page 63 of 126
Page 63 of 126
107
106
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Considerations Other Than Monetary Costs
In Singapore where landfill sites are impossible to find, the option was taken even if the initial costs were higher. Hong Kong is not very much better off than Singapore in the shortage for landfill sites. This may have also been the rationale behind the decision for Macau whose Phase-1 of 2 incinerators has been in full operation since August 1992.
Additional Uses Of Incinerators For Disposal Of Non-Radioactive Hospital Wastes
With very little additional expenses, the same incinerator plant can be adopted to dispose of clinical wastes in conjunction with the main bulk of domestic wastes. The clinical wastes, being packed in special containers will go into a special reception room where a geiger counter checking device will serve to pick up any radioactive contamination of the hospital wastes before delivered into the furnace via a conveyor belt through specially designed channel into the furnace, so that there will be no contamination of the surrounding areas.
Possible Use Of Reclaimed Land From Landfill Formed By Disposal Of Domestic Wastes
It may be said that the land from landfill can be usefully employed and profitably sold. But because of the emission of methane gases and leaching, the land so formed will not be available for use for a period of at least 10 to 20 years. In Penang, building on top of such land revealed that the foundation became unstable. There were many incidents in UK whereby residents of the houses built on such land were scared by emission of toxic gases subsequently. Even if used as golf courses, the golfers were advised not to smoke on the course, because of the emission of the methane gas which is inflammable in nature.
Value Of Land And The Amount Of Land Required
Land to be occupied by one incinerator is taken to be 20 000.M.2. Whilst one transfer station in the landfill option is taken to be 10 000.M.2. at least 640 acres of land would be required for a 20 years landfill. The value of land is taken to be HK$1,000 per square meter depending on the location of land used for the respective purposes.
Role Of Landfill In Disposal Of Solid Wastes
Undoubtedly, landfill will have its place in the overall disposal strategy of solid wastes. The chemically inert and non-organic construction wastes cannot be burnt, and will require landfill for disposal. The residual fly ash from incinerated waste still require landfill for final disposal, though only 3% of its original volume of its domestic wastes and without any atmospheric chemical pollutions. The life span of landfill is therefore prolonged by ten times its capacity for disposal of other non-domestic wastes.
Page 63 of 126
Our Recommendation
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
It is recommended that two incinerators should be installed, one on the island and one in the new territory, with a reduced number of transfer stations. These will serve as a useful supplementary means for the disposal of domestic wastes, which will certainly relieve the strain on the capacity of the existing available landfill. It is a modern, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly means of disposing the domestic wastes.
Ladies and gentlemen, is there such a perfect incinerator available in the market? The answer is a definite 'Yes.' But it takes some foresight and environmentally enlightened willpower to make the right choice.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us pay salute to the high-tech and high-combustion incinerator for its complimentary role in disposal of domestic waste.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am not a member of the Public Health Select Committee and I would rather leave it to others to express their preferences for the disposal of waste. However, as Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, I have had a very good lesson of what happens when the City Council is unable to provide the necessary money to keep incinerators running. When I was a member of the Delegation that visited the refuse incineration plant in Washington D.C. There were originally four separate sets of six incinerators. Three were closed down completely due to a lack of funds and in the final plant, only one incinerator was operating and that was on its last leg because again of poor maintenance. Also, I have a very clear impression that despite the public in Washington carefully separating the right recycling waste from other waste, it was largely to no avail because hardly any of it was in the end being recycled.
In Hong Kong, the duties in regard to waste disposal are divided. We, as the Council, are responsible for rubbish collection but only in part for what happens finally to the waste. In my opinion, this arrangement is or could easily become unsatisfactory. To misquote a famous Churchillion remark made during the great war, 'so long as the government provides the money, we can do the job.' Certainly, even now we do the job very much better than Washington D.C., the capital of the USA. I was really horrified by what I saw in this refuse incinerator plant. Even the smell was so bad that half the Delegation went back to the bus half way round the plant rather than taking the risk of permanent damage to the lungs or noses? Therefore, whilst I support the motion, I emphasise the words 'modern' and 'environmentally friendly'. Thank you.
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, at present the waste disposal method in Hong Kong is to transfer refuse to transfer stations, landfills and incinerators. But the Government is of the view that incinerators affect the environment of Hong Kong because during the combustion process, toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide will be released. Some metal such as mercury and lead as well as ashes will also
Page 63 of 126
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.