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Following is a question by the Hon Albert Cheng Jinghan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (October 25):
Question:
It is learnt that some refuse collection vehicles running on the road are filthy and stink with foul water dripping, becoming an eyesore to the public and affecting environmental hygiene. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a) the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, private contractors and private cleansing service providers are required to keep their refuse collection vehicles in good hygiene condition; if so, of the penalties which may be imposed on the parties concerned for the situation mentioned above;
(b) prosecutions have been instituted in the past three years for the above situation; if so, of the number of prosecutions instituted; and
(c) it will consider making it a mandatory requirement for the parties concerned to cleanse their refuse collection vehicles regularly, as well as providing car-wash facilities at landfills to offer refuse collection vehicles cleansing service at a charge determined on the cost-recovery basis?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has established guidelines and contract provisions to ensure that the refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) of both the Department and its contractors are kept in a clean and hygienic condition. Moreover, to prevent leachate from soiling the streets when the RCVs are in motion, sump tanks are installed in all these RCVs to trap leachate from the refuse collected.
FEHD's guidelines to its drivers stipulate that all RCVs, after disposal of refuse at transfer stations or landfills, should be cleansed by on-site vehicle washing machine and with the sump tanks emptied before leaving the site. To ensure that these guidelines are observed, FEHD's supervisory staff conducts surprise inspections at transfer stations and landfills. Furthermore, drivers have to arrange for the RCVs to be washed when they return to depots at the end of each working day. Particular attention will be given to the leak-proofing device of the RCVs during regular examination and maintenance, to reduce the chances of environmental pollution.
As for the RCVs of FEHD contractors, there are provisions in the contract to require the contractors to keep their RCVs clean and to wash the vehicles at the end of each working day. In the course of monitoring the services rendered by the contractors, if FEHD detects any unsatisfactory service or breach of contract provisions, it will take appropriate punitive actions against the contractors in accordance with the relevant contract provisions.
For soiling of streets by any waste (including leachate, mud, etc.) by any vehicles (including RCVs operated by private cleansing companies), FEHD may initiate prosecution against the registered owners or any persons concerned under Section 9 of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132BK). Any person who contravenes the legislation is liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment of six months upon conviction.
(b) In the past three years, FEHD has initiated 321 prosecutions under Section 9 of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132BK) for soiling of streets by waste from vehicles. Of these, more than 30 cases are in connection with RCVs.
(c) In waste disposal facilities managed by the Environmental Protection Department, such as refuse transfer stations and landfills, there is established vehicle washing arrangement as part of the operating procedures. After unloading their refuse cargo, RCVs need to go through the vehicle washing system to have their vehicle bodies/wheels washed before leaving the facility premises, to minimise their impact on the surrounding environment.
Ends/Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:25
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