ENG-2008 — Page 346

278 The Environment

connection, the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance was enacted in July 2008. It provides the legal basis for introducing PRS in Hong Kong. An environmental levy on plastic shopping bags is the first scheme under the Ordinance. The EPD is also examining the feasibility of introducing PRS for used electrical and electronic equipment. Meanwhile, the EPD continues to promote and support trade-funded voluntary recycling programmes. In addition, it will continue to examine suitable charging options for Hong Kong in respect of municipal solid waste.

Landfills

All municipal solid waste is disposed of at three large modern landfills in the New Territories, which are operated to high environmental standards.

The community disposed of about 9 450 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day in 2008. Of this, 6 080 tonnes was domestic waste and 3 370 tonnes was commercial and industrial waste. On average, each person in Hong Kong disposed of about 1.35 kilogrammes of municipal solid waste daily.

In 2008, it was estimated that the three landfills would be full in early to mid- 2010s. Planning work for possible landfill extension schemes is under way.

Hong Kong has 13 old landfills, which have been restored for safety and environmental reasons. Recreational facilities have been or will be built on most of the restored sites.

Refuse Transfer Stations

Municipal solid waste is collected and delivered to refuse transfer stations by refuse collection vehicles and containerised and then taken to landfills by sea or land transport. A network of six modern transfer stations and one set of Outlying Islands Transfer Facilities handles 5 540 tonnes of waste every day. About 79 per cent of Hong Kong's domestic waste is delivered via this network to landfills.

Chemical and Special Wastes

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 tracks the movement of chemical waste from its origin to the final disposal point.

In 2008, a daily average of 120 tonnes of chemical waste, including waste from sea-going vessels, was treated at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing Yi Island. A Government contractor operates the treatment centre. Waste producers using its services are required to pay part of the treatment cost.

Following the commissioning of the Low-level Radioactive Waste Storage Facility at Siu A Chau, most of the low-level radioactive waste generated in Hong Kong has been transferred to the facility for long-term storage. The facility is purpose-built to meet stringent international standards for the safe storage of low-level radioactive waste.