ENG-2005 — Page 348

302 | The Environment

Refuse Transfer Stations

The network of refuse transfer stations forms an important component of the Government's waste disposal facilities. Waste collected in urban centres is delivered to these stations, where it is compacted into sealed containers for delivery to the three landfills.

Six modern transfer stations and one set of Outlying Island Transfer Facilities handle 5 490 tonnes of waste every day. This is mostly domestic waste, and represents around 80 per cent of Hong Kong's total daily domestic waste production. Six of these transfer facilities the stations at Hong Kong Island East, Hong Kong Island West, West Kowloon, North Lantau, Northwest New Territories and Ma Wan also provide services to private waste collectors.

Chemical and Special Wastes

The widespread malpractice of dumping chemical waste into sewers and surface waters was stopped by the introduction of comprehensive controls on handling and disposal. All chemical waste producers are required to pack, label and store their chemical wastes correctly before disposal at licensed treatment facilities. A trip ticket system - involving the waste producers, licensed collectors and licensed disposal points tracks the movement of chemical waste from its origin to the final disposal point.

In 2005, a daily average of 103 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 May 2005, the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill was introduced into the Legislative Council to control clinical waste, which, if improperly handled, can cause public health risks. The Bill is being examined by a Bills Committee set up by the Legislative Council. Subject to the passage of the Bill and related subsidiary legislation, the Government intends to take control of clinical waste in 2007. The Chemical Waste Treatment Centre will need to be modified to receive clinical waste.

Construction Waste

The construction industry generated an average 59 000 tonnes of construction waste every day. Of that, about 89 per cent was suitable for re-use in reclamation projects. As most local reclamation projects have been suspended, the Government plans to deliver the inert materials to the Mainland for re-use in reclamation projects.

Large-scale Waste Treatment Facilities

Hong Kong has to deal with a large volume of non-recyclable waste and needs. new facilities to treat such waste and reduce its volume. The facilities will need to meet the highest international environmental standards and be cost-effective. A group of advisers, mostly from outside the Government, has recommended that a multi-technology approach should be adopted so that the most suitable technology