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The Government will table the Waste Disposal (Designated Waste Disposal Facility) (Amendment) Regulation 2004 and Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation at the Legislative Council for negative vetting, a spokesman for the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau said today (October 28).

The Regulations set out the implementation details of the construction waste disposal charging scheme. Subject to passage, the scheme will commence when the necessary upgrading works at the designated waste disposal facilities are completed.

"We aim to implement the construction waste disposal charging scheme in summer 2005", the spokesman said.

"We are facing a serious waste problem. Our landfills are filling up much faster than expected and will last only 7 to 11 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 spokesman explained.

The proposed charge levels 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. Instead of paying the charges through on-site payment arrangement, all waste disposal charges will be paid through a direct settlement system of billing accounts.

Waste producers should make their best effort to sort the construction waste to avoid having to pay a higher charge of $125 per tonne at landfills. Pure inert construction waste sorted out can be disposed of at the public fill reception facilities at a much lower charge. If a load of construction waste contains more than 50 per cent by weight of inert construction waste, it can be taken to sorting facilities which will provide a sorting service at a charge. Landfills will only accept loads of construction waste containing not more than 50 per cent by weight of inert construction waste.

The Regulations, to be published in the Gazette tomorrow (October 29), will be tabled at the Legislative Council on November 3.

Ends/Thursday, October 28, 2004

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