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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (February 11) :

Question:

It has been reported that the problem of abandoned packaging materials has increasingly become a cause for concern. However, since "abandoned packaging materials" are not among the types of solid waste classified by the Environmental Protection Department, there is no way for the public to effectively monitor the seriousness of the problem. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it has estimated the quantities of packaging materials abandoned in the past three years and, if it has, of a breakdown by type of the quantities of such materials abandoned each year; and

(b) whether the authorities will consider including "abandoned packaging materials" as a new type of classified solid waste, so as to monitor more accurately the environmental pollution caused by abandoned packaging materials; if so, of the relevant details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Abandoned packaging materials are not among the types of solid waste under the classification system of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). Generally speaking, materials such as carton/cardboard boxes, plastic bags and polyfoam can be used for packaging. According to the statistics of the EPD, the disposal quantity of the abovementioned materials in the past three years is listed at Annex.

(b) It is difficult to define abandoned packaging materials given its broad definition. Also, it is not easy to ascertain whether the abandoned materials have been used for packaging or for other purposes. Hence, the EPD has no plan to include abandoned packaging materials as a new classified solid waste type.

Annex

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Carton/cardboard boxes, plastic bags and polyfoam abandoned in the past three years

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                                Quantity (tonnes)


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                        2001        2002        2003*


Carton /              155,860      137,970      144,540


cardboard boxes   


Plastic bags          281,050      388,360      371,940


Polyfoam               37,230       37,960       41,610

Ends/Wednesday, February 11, 2004

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