ENG-2004 — Page 377

The Environment | 319

In 2004, a daily average of 107 tonnes of chemical waste, including waste from sea-going vessels, was treated at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing Yi Island, the main treatment facility for chemical waste. A government contractor operates the treatment centre. Waste producers using its services are required to pay part of the treatment cost.

Clinical Waste

In recognition of the public health risks associated with the improper handling of clinical waste generated by health-care activities, the Government plans to implement legal controls on the handling, collection and disposal of this type of waste. The Government also proposes to modify the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre so that it can receive clinical waste for proper treatment, replacing the current practice of disposing of untreated clinical waste at landfills. The health-care sectors and other related parties have been consulted and have generally supported the proposal. A Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill, providing for the control of clinical waste, is planned to be introduced into the Legislative Council in 2005. Subject to the passage of the bill and related subsidiary legislation, the Government intends to implement the controls in 2006.

Large-scale Waste Treatment Facilities

No matter how effective it is in dealing with waste prevention and recycling, Hong Kong still has to deal with a large volume of non-recyclable waste. New facilities to treat waste and reduce its volume will have to be put in place. Such facilities will need to meet the highest international environmental standards and be cost-effective. In April 2002, the Government invited the local and international waste management industries to express their interest in proposing the latest technologies for the development of large-scale waste treatment facilities in Hong Kong. An advisory group, comprising mainly non-officials, is considering various waste management technologies and options that are potentially suitable to Hong Kong. The public will be consulted about the technology options in 2005. However, even with such large-scale waste treatment facilities, there are residual wastes that must be handled safely. Hence, Hong Kong will continue to require landfills for the final disposal of waste.

Import and Export of Waste

Controls on the import and export of waste under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) ban the importation of hazardous waste from developed countries (mainly of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union). The controls are in line with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

The convention's main control mechanism requires notification and consent by authorities of the states of origin, destination and transit before the shipment of hazardous or non-recyclable waste can begin.

In January 2000, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the HKSAR and the Mainland to strengthen control of hazardous waste movement between the two places.