ENG-2009 — Page 350

282 The Environment

organic waste such as food waste and turn it into useful resources. It plans to commission the first phase of OWTF before mid-2010. However, even with such facilities, residual waste will still need to be disposed of at landfills.

In order to deal with the ever-increasing sewage sludge generated from the sewage treatment works, a dedicated Sludge Treatment Facility (STF) that will adopt advanced incineration technology and with a capacity of 2 000 tonnes per day will be built at Tsang Tsui near Nim Wan, Tuen Mun. Tenders for the STF were invited in October 2009.

Import and Export of Waste

Import and export of waste are regulated by a permit system under the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO). The control is in line with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, which adopts a prior informed consent procedure for shipments of controlled waste. To support the Basel Ban, an initiative of the Basel Convention to curb the export of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing countries, the EPD ceased issuing import permits for controlled waste from the developed countries with effect from 1998. This ban arrangement was also incorporated in the WDO in April 2006.

In 2000, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the HKSAR and the Mainland to strengthen the control of hazardous waste movements between the two places. The MoU was subsequently renamed 'Co-operation Arrangement on Control of Waste Movements between the Mainland and HKSAR' in November 2007.

In 2009, 54 prosecutions related to illegal waste import and export activities. were completed, with the imposition of fines totalling about $0.9 million. Most of the offences involved trans-shipment of hazardous electronic waste through Hong Kong to other places.

Floating Refuse in the Harbour

The Marine Department deploys a fleet of about 70 contractors' vessels to collect floating refuse and refuse from vessels. In 2009, 16 195 tonnes were collected. Besides law enforcement, the Government also uses publicity and education to tackle the floating refuse problem.

Marine Dumping

The EPD maintains strict control over marine dumping operations via a permit. system under the Dumping at Sea Ordinance. These operations follow the requirements of the London Convention to which Hong Kong is a Contracting Party.

Since August 2008, all marine dumping vessels operating under permits issued by EPD have to be equipped with an automatic self-monitoring device that transmits real-time data to the EPD Control Centre to allow the authorities to trace any illegal dumping in a cost-effective manner. The department's inspectors conduct frequent patrols of Hong Kong waters to prevent illegal dumping.