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LCQ13: Computer Recycling Programme
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    Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

Question:

    The Computer Recycling Programme ("CRP") which is supported by the Environmental Protection Department was launched in January this year.  Under CRP, used computers are collected and the better quality ones are donated to the needy through a charitable organisation, while the rest are given to the recycler appointed under CRP for dismantling so as to recover useful parts and materials for recycling purpose.  However, it has been reported that the only appointed recycler of CRP has not yet obtained the relevant licence for disposing of computer kinescopes, and that the company has been granted tenancy of the EcoPark in Tuen Mun concurrently.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)  of the respective quantities of each type of computer products collected under CRP so far and, among them, the respective percentages of those which have been sent to the charitable organisation for onward donation to the needy, those already dismantled and those which have not yet been disposed of;

(b)  whether the above recycler has applied for the relevant licence for disposing of computer kinescopes; if so, of the progress of the application; of the reasons why the authorities approved the appointment of such recycler as the recycler of CRP and granted it tenancy of the EcoPark; as well as the measures in place to prevent those companies which have not obtained the relevant licences from being awarded government contracts related to environmental protection; and

(c)  whether, in the past three years, the authorities had assessed if the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354), which has been in force since 1980, is outdated and studied overseas legislation in this respect; whether the authorities will amend the relevant legislation to require that organisations which dispose of toxic computer parts must have the relevant licences, so as to protect the health of those working in the relevant trades and the general public?

Reply:

Madam President,

    The Computer Recycling Programme (the CRP) is a territory-wide recycling initiative jointly funded and organised by 20 major computer manufacturers and suppliers with the full support of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).  It is the second voluntary Producer Responsibility Scheme after the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programme.  Moreover, members of the computer trade have formed the Hong Kong Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling Association (the Association) to manage and promote the CRP.

    Our reply to the questions raised by the Honourable Member is as follows:

(a)  According to the information provided by the Association, during the four and a half months from the launch of the CRP in mid-January to the end of May 2008, a total of some 10,800 used computer products were collected, including about 4,600 main units, 2,600 monitors and 3,600 printers/scanners.  Of these, 250 reusable items of better quality (2.3%) were given to a charitable organisation for donation to the needy, while about 70% of the non-reusable computer products were dismantled for recycling.  The remaining 2,400 kinescope monitors have been temporarily stored in a workshop, pending further treatment.

(b)  The Association selected the contractor for the CRP through a Tender Assessment Committee which assessed the tenderers based on their experience, existing facilities or planned facilities to be introduced and price, etc.  The proposal submitted by the appointed recycler of the CRP obtained the highest overall score, and was therefore appointed as the contractor by the Association early this year.

    The CRP¡¦s contract stipulates that the contractor must comply with the laws of Hong Kong and obtain the necessary licences.  In this regard, the processing of kinescope monitors is the only operation under the CRP which involves chemical waste treatment and requires the contractor to obtain a waste disposal licence beforehand.  After appointment by the Association, the contractor has already installed the facility for the recycling of kinescope monitors as pledged in the tender submission, and applied to the EPD for the relevant licence.  The EPD is now processing the licence application.  Meanwhile, the kinescope monitors collected have been temporarily stored in the contractor¡¦s workshop, which will be processed after the contractor has obtained the necessary licence.  Given the current progress, the licence is expected to be issued soon.

    The EcoPark is designed to provide long-term land and communal facilities to encourage and promote the environmental industry to invest in advanced and cost-effective technologies that would add value to locally recovered materials.  To ensure fairness, tenancies of the lots in the EcoPark are granted through open tender.  Tenderers will be assessed by an assessment panel based on a transparent set of scoring criteria which take into account their experience, proposed recycling process, environmental management plan and rent offered.  The tenderer with the highest total score will be accepted as the tenant of the relevant lot.

    The EcoPark tenancy agreement stipulates that the tenant must comply with the laws of Hong Kong and obtain the necessary licences.  In fact, applicants for waste disposal licences have to provide details of their proposed processes, design and layout of their plants and other operational arrangements in their applications.  As such, tenderers will only be able to submit such licence applications after they have become tenants of the EcoPark.

(c)  The objective of the Waste Disposal Ordinance is to provide for the control of the production, storage, collection and disposal of waste.  Any persons and places connected with activities under control shall have to register or apply for relevant licences with the authority.

    To step up the control of hazardous waste, the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation (the Regulation) was enacted and implemented in 1992 to regulate the production, storage, collection and disposal of chemical waste.  The Regulation requires chemical waste producers to register with the EPD and to arrange for the proper packaging, labelling and storage of the chemical waste before delivery to a disposal facility in order to protect the health and safety of the workers and the general public.  Chemical waste must be collected by a licensed waste collector and be disposed of at a licensed disposal facility.  Moreover, staff of the EPD will conduct regular inspections of the licensed collectors and disposal facilities to ensure that their operations comply with the licensing conditions and will not cause environmental pollution.

    The above mentioned chemical waste control regime, in terms of regulatory approach and standard, is comparable to those adopted by other advanced countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. The EPD will continue to review the need to amend the Regulation from time to time, with due reference to overseas experience and the development of hazardous waste control, with a view to protecting the environment and public health.

Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:48

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