1997 — Page 124

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

127

daily, out of which 40% comes from the industrial and commercial sector and 60% from households. Household waste is mainly collected by the two municipal councils and taken to landfills. The growth rate of waste production in Hong Kong rises by 3% annually on the average, so that the 3 landfills expected to last 40 to 50 years will be filled up in less than half the time. My estimate is that they will be filled to capacity in 16 years. The only solution to ever increasing waste is therefore to reduce waste production.

The Waste Reduction Plan for Hong Kong Consultation Paper' (Draft) recently published by the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch is directed at waste reduction. Categorising, recovering and recycling of waste should be the best ways to reduce waste, but the waste recovery rate in Hong Kong has not been satisfactory. Whereas 53% of industrial and commercial waste can be recovered, only 8% of domestic waste can be. According to the Draft Paper, the reasons for this low recovery rate include that the waste is polluted and that the demand for certain categories of waste is low. Domestic waste gets polluted mainly because there is no proper waste categorisation system in force. As pointed out on page 27 of the Draft Paper, the Urban Services Department's response is that it only helps buildings with no waste collection facilities to collect sorted waste. There is no mention in the Draft Paper of waste sorting which is the necessary preparation work before recovery.

As the intermediary of waste generation and recovery, I think the Urban Council should take up the sorting responsibility. Interested recovery merchants can also respond actively. In the past, the Department complained that no merchant was interested in buying waste, thereby shifting the responsibility of recovery rate on them. I wonder who would be interested in waste fouled by sauces or polluted waste. I think the crux of the matter lies in waste sorting, which is work before recovery.

The ten districts under the jurisdiction of the Urban Council collected an average of 2,979 tonnes of waste daily. Apart from construction waste which accounts for one-third of our total waste, the Urban Council handles a large quantity of waste each day. We feel that the Department should not shift the responsibility wholly on to private recovery merchants while maintaining itself only as an intermediary. I think this line of thinking should be changed.

Going back to the Draft Paper, I think it is incorrect in population projection. We all know well to expect a population growth of 2 million in the next ten years. With flat construction figures in the public and private sectors below target in the last few years and the expected population growth, construction waste in Hong Kong can be expected to increase steadily. I hope government will revise the estimated figures given in the Draft Paper.

I move now on to the question of incinerators. According to philosophers, matter is neither generated nor destroyed, it only improves in form. After burning, a new form evolves. However, I do not think incinerators are environmentally friendly. I would say they are a supporting option. I think the

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 127 daily, out of which 40% comes from the industrial and commercial sector and 60% from households. Household waste is mainly collected by the two municipal councils and taken to landfills. The growth rate of waste production in Hong Kong rises by 3% annually on the average, so that the 3 landfills expected to last 40 to 50 years will be filled up in less than half the time. My estimate is that they will be filled to capacity in 16 years. The only solution to ever increasing waste is therefore to reduce waste production. The Waste Reduction Plan for Hong Kong Consultation Paper' (Draft) recently published by the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch is directed at waste reduction. Categorising, recovering and recycling of waste should be the best ways to reduce waste, but the waste recovery rate in Hong Kong has not been satisfactory. Whereas 53% of industrial and commercial waste can be recovered, only 8% of domestic waste can be. According to the Draft Paper, the reasons for this low recovery rate include that the waste is polluted and that the demand for certain categories of waste is low. Domestic waste gets polluted mainly because there is no proper waste categorisation system in force. As pointed out on page 27 of the Draft Paper, the Urban Services Department's response is that it only helps buildings with no waste collection facilities to collect sorted waste. There is no mention in the Draft Paper of waste sorting which is the necessary preparation work before recovery. As the intermediary of waste generation and recovery, I think the Urban Council should take up the sorting responsibility. Interested recovery merchants can also respond actively. In the past, the Department complained that no merchant was interested in buying waste, thereby shifting the responsibility of recovery rate on them. I wonder who would be interested in waste fouled by sauces or polluted waste. I think the crux of the matter lies in waste sorting, which is work before recovery. The ten districts under the jurisdiction of the Urban Council collected an average of 2,979 tonnes of waste daily. Apart from construction waste which accounts for one-third of our total waste, the Urban Council handles a large quantity of waste each day. We feel that the Department should not shift the responsibility wholly on to private recovery merchants while maintaining itself only as an intermediary. I think this line of thinking should be changed. Going back to the Draft Paper, I think it is incorrect in population projection. We all know well to expect a population growth of 2 million in the next ten years. With flat construction figures in the public and private sectors below target in the last few years and the expected population growth, construction waste in Hong Kong can be expected to increase steadily. I hope government will revise the estimated figures given in the Draft Paper. I move now on to the question of incinerators. According to philosophers, matter is neither generated nor destroyed, it only improves in form. After burning, a new form evolves. However, I do not think incinerators are environmentally friendly. I would say they are a supporting option. I think the Page 124 of 654 Page 124 of 654 Page 124 of 654

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Page 124 of 654 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 127 daily, out of which 40% comes from the industrial and commercial sector and €60% from households. Household waste is mainly collected by the two municipal councils and taken to landfills. The growth rate of waste production iin Hong Kong rises by 3% annually on the average, so that the 3 landfills expected to last 40 10 50 years will be filled up in less than half the time. My estimate is that they will be filled to capacity in 16 years. The only solution to cever increasing waste is therefore to reduce waste production. The Waste Reduction Plan for Hong Kong Consultation Paper' (Draft) recently published by the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch is directed sal waste reduction. Categorising, recovering and recycling of waste should be Ithe best ways to reduce waste, but the waste recovery rate in Hong Kong has not been satisfactory. Whereas 53% of industrial and commercial waste can be recovered, only 8% of domestic waste can be. According to the Draft Paper, the reasons for this low recovery rate include that the waste is polluted and that the demand for certain categories of waste is low. Domestic waste get polluted mainly because there is no proper waste categorisation system in force. As pointed out on page 27 of the Draft Paper, the Urban Services Department's response is that it only helps buildings with no waste collection facilities to collect sorted waste. There is no mention in the Draft Paper of waste sorting which is the necessary preparation work before recovery. As the intermediary of waste generation and recovery, I think the Urban Council should take up the sorting responsibility. Interested recovery merchants can also respond actively. In the past, the Department complained that no merchant was interested in buying waste, thereby shifting the responsibility of recovery rate on them. I wonder who would be interested to waste fouled by sauces or polluted waste. I think the crux of the matter lies in waste sorting, which is work before recovery. The ten districts under the jurisdiction of the Urban Council collected an average of 2 979 tonnes of waste daily. Apart from construction waste which accounts for one-third of our total waste, the Urban Council handles a large quantity of waste each day. We feel that the Department should not shift the responsibility wholly on to private recovery merchants while maintaining itself only as an intermediary. I think this line of thinking should be changed. Going back to the Draft Paper, I think it is incorrect in population projection. We all know well to expect a population growth of 2 million in the next ten years. With flat construction figures in the public and private sectors below target in the last few years and the expected population growth, construction waste in Hong Kong can be expected to increase steadily. I hope government will revise the estimated figures given in the Draft Paper. I move now on to the question of incinerators. According to philosophers, matter is neither generated nor destroyed, it only improves in form. After burning, a new form evolves. However, I do not think incinerators are environmentally friendly. I would say they are a supporting option. I think the Page 124 of 654 Page 124 of 654 Page 124 of 654

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Page 124 of 654

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

127

daily, out of which 40% comes from the industrial and commercial sector and €60% from households. Household waste is mainly collected by the two municipal councils and taken to landfills. The growth rate of waste production iin Hong Kong rises by 3% annually on the average, so that the 3 landfills expected to last 40 10 50 years will be filled up in less than half the time. My estimate is that they will be filled to capacity in 16 years. The only solution to cever increasing waste is therefore to reduce waste production.

The Waste Reduction Plan for Hong Kong Consultation Paper' (Draft) recently published by the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch is directed sal waste reduction. Categorising, recovering and recycling of waste should be Ithe best ways to reduce waste, but the waste recovery rate in Hong Kong has not been satisfactory. Whereas 53% of industrial and commercial waste can be recovered, only 8% of domestic waste can be. According to the Draft Paper, the reasons for this low recovery rate include that the waste is polluted and that the demand for certain categories of waste is low. Domestic waste get polluted mainly because there is no proper waste categorisation system in force. As pointed out on page 27 of the Draft Paper, the Urban Services Department's response is that it only helps buildings with no waste collection facilities to collect sorted waste. There is no mention in the Draft Paper of waste sorting which is the necessary preparation work before recovery.

As the intermediary of waste generation and recovery, I think the Urban Council should take up the sorting responsibility. Interested recovery merchants can also respond actively. In the past, the Department complained that no merchant was interested in buying waste, thereby shifting the responsibility of recovery rate on them. I wonder who would be interested to waste fouled by sauces or polluted waste. I think the crux of the matter lies in waste sorting, which is work before recovery.

The ten districts under the jurisdiction of the Urban Council collected an average of 2 979 tonnes of waste daily. Apart from construction waste which accounts for one-third of our total waste, the Urban Council handles a large quantity of waste each day. We feel that the Department should not shift the responsibility wholly on to private recovery merchants while maintaining itself only as an intermediary. I think this line of thinking should be changed.

1997 — Page 124

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