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New provisions under section 20DA of the Waste Disposal Ordinance to tighten control on the disposal of imported non-hazardous waste will take effect from tomorrow (April 1).
Under the new control regime, anyone intending to dispose of any imported non-hazardous waste at the designated waste disposal facilities, such as landfills, must apply for an authorisation from the Director of Environmental Protection.
"Authorisation will not normally be granted unless the applicant can prove that the waste was originally imported for recycling and he has exhausted all possible recycling outlets and all means to return the waste to the place of origin," a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said.
An application for authorisation must be accompanied by a fee of $11,250. The applicant has also to bear the full cost of waste disposal at EPD's waste facilities if authorisation is granted.
A person who disposes of imported non-hazardous waste without authorisation is liable to a fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment for a first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment on a second and subsequent conviction.
"With the stringent conditions imposed for granting an authorisation, the new measure will help deter deliberate import of unwanted waste into Hong Kong for disposal under the guise of recycling, thus conserving our valuable landfill capacity," the spokesman said.
Enquiries can be made to EPD's hotline at 2775 5462.
Ends/Monday, March 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:20
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