***************************************************************

The Government will introduce the Waste Disposal (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2003 into the Legislative Council for the implementation of the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme, a spokesman for the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau said today (December 3).

Subject to passage, the bill will introduce charges for the disposal of construction waste at waste disposal facilities, the spokesman said.

The proposed charges are $125 per tonne at landfills, $100 per tonne at sorting facilities and $27 per tonne at public fill reception facilities. They represent full recovery of the capital and recurrent costs of the facilities.

"We are facing a serious waste problem," the spokesman said. "Our landfills are filling up much faster than expected and will last only eight to 12 years.

"The charging scheme aims to provide an economic incentive for waste producers to reduce waste and carry out sorting to facilitate reuse/recycling of waste, thereby helping to slow down the depletion of limited landfill capacity."

The bill will define construction waste and strengthen controls against its illegal disposal.

"The Waste Disposal Ordinance already provides for sanctions against illegal disposal of waste. It is necessary to strengthen legal provisions against such acts as the introduction of the charging scheme may aggravate the problem," the spokesman said.

"Upon enactment of the bill, we will introduce a regulation to set out the details of the charging scheme," he said.

The key features of the charging scheme include the establishment of a direct settlement system requiring major waste producers to open accounts and pay waste disposal charges direct to the Government; and the exemption of all construction contracts that are awarded before the commencement of the charging scheme.

"We will continue discussion with the trade on the detailed arrangements," the spokesman added.

The bill, to be published in the Gazette on December 5, will be introduced into the Legislative Council on December 17.

Ends/Wednesday, December 3, 2003

NNNN