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Following is a question by the Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (July 2) :-

Question:

It has been reported that in order to reduce waste loads to landfills, the Government launched a recycling programme for waste tyres and awarded a half-year contract to a contractor in April this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a) the average number of waste tyres collected and the average cost involved in using the waste tyres for landfill in the past three years;

(b) the estimated waste loads to landfills that can be reduced annually as a result of the above programme; and

(c) the support given to the contractor concerned?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) In the past three years, the Government handled an average of about 10 000 tonnes of waste tyres each year. The recurrent costs for handling these tyres, including the operation costs of landfills and refuse transfer stations, were about HK$0.9 million per year. To save landfill space, all waste tyres have to be cut into two halves before disposal. Of the waste tyres handled, over 3 000 tonnes have not been cut, and thus need to go through the cutting process before disposal. This process costs about HK$5 million each year.

(b) To reduce the number of waste tyres disposed of at landfills so as to save landfill space and the costs involved, we consider that a pilot programme to recycle waste tyres should be carried out. The pilot programme commenced in early April this year and will last six months. Under the programme, we estimate that the contractor will recover about 1 200 tonnes of waste tyres, most of which are uncut tyres. This represents about two-thirds of such tyres collected in the same period. The programme will not only reduce the use of landfill space, but will also help the Government save HK$0.8 - $0.9 million within the six months.

(c) Under the contract, the Government will pay the contractor HK$878 per tonne. The total amount to be paid over the six-month contract period will be about HK$1 million.

End/Wednesday, July 2, 2003

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