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Following is a question by the Hon Miriam Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 27) :

Question

It is learnt that some drivers transport inert construction waste, such as debris covered with refuse, to landfills for dumping. Such waste should have been dumped at designated public filling areas. Such a misuse of landfills will shorten their life. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of such incidents detected in each of the past three years;

(b) of the monitoring mechanism in place to prevent such misuse; and

(c) whether it will consider improving the monitoring mechanism; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply

Madam President,

(a) We estimate that about 6 000, 2 500 and 1 000 truckloads of inert construction and demolition (C&D) materials mixed with waste were delivered to the South East New Territories Landfill in 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively. We have not detected such incidents at the North East New Territories Landfill and the West New Territories Landfill.

(b) Currently, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) does not have the legal authority to refuse delivery of mixed waste to landfills, irrespective of the amount of inert materials therein. Hence, landfills have to accept all mixed waste delivered to them. Nonetheless, EPD and the Civil Engineering Department have been advising dump truck drivers not to dispose of inert C&D materials at landfills. In addition, Government works departments require contractors of Government works projects to properly dispose of inert C&D materials at public filling areas instead of landfills. Relevant departments will also continue to step up enforcement of the trip-ticket system, which governs the disposal of waste and inert C&D materials, and closely monitor contractors' work in waste sorting and recycling.

(c) We are preparing legislative proposals to provide EPD the legal authority to refuse delivery of mixed waste with large amount of inert C&D materials to landfills. We also plan to introduce the landfill charging scheme for C&D waste. This could create an economic disincentive for waste producers and dump truck drivers to dispose of mixed waste at landfills.

End/Wednesday, November 27, 2002

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