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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 (June 6) :
Question:
It has been reported that although compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are more energy efficient than conventional tungsten light bulbs, they contain heavy metals and, if disposed of improperly and casually discarded at landfills, will contaminate the land and underground water. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total number of waste CFLs generated within the Government last year; how the Government disposed of such CFLs, and among them, the respective numbers of CFLs collected separately and transported to the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing Yi Island and those delivered to landfills;
(b) whether it will study how to recover and dispose of waste CFLs and establish a proper recovery system; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether it will step up publicity efforts to educate the public on how to dispose of waste CFLs properly?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) There are facilities in the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) for treating waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes and recovering their mercury content. At present, the major service users are government departments, including all departments which produce a large number of waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes, such as the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Highways Departments, the Housing Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Drainage Services Department. In 2006, a total of about 336,900 number of waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes were collected and delivered to the CWTC for treatment by these departments. Separate figures for the waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes are not available. These departments have recycled the majority of the waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes. Occasional individual waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes can be disposed of together with other waste at landfills which are equipped with impermeable liner, leachate collection and treatment system as well as surface and groundwater management systems that could effectively treat pollutants to prevent contamination to the land and underground water.
(b) Although the facilities at the CWTC mainly provide services to government departments at present, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has been in close liaison with other organisations and public members who are major producers of waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes, such as public transport companies, tertiary education institutes, the airport, hotels, shopping malls and public and private residential developments, to encourage them to use the waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes treatment facilities at the CWTC. Organizations and public members using the facilities have to arrange for collection and storage of waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes on their own, deliver them in bulk to the CWTC and pay a disposal fee of HK$1,027 per tonne. With the public awareness of and support for energy saving, we believe that CFLs will be more widely used. EPD will step up publicity with a view to attracting more people to use the facilities voluntarily.
(c) EPD will strengthen liaison with property management companies with a view to attracting more housing estate residents to participate in the recycling of waste CFLs and fluorescent tubes. We will recommend the method of recycling and provide relevant information and publicity posters to the housing estates.
Ends/Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:51
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