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Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (November 12):
Question:
It has been reported that as Hong Kong has recently been hit by the global financial tsunami, the waste paper recycling industry has shrunk significantly. Due to the lack of orders, major recyclable waste collectors have suspended the collection of waste paper, and it is uncertain when the situation will return to normal. It has also been reported that a waste paper plant has accumulated some 900 tonnes of waste paper in one week. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it has uncovered cases of recyclable waste collectors dumping the accumulated waste paper in the landfills; if so, how it will handle such waste which has suddenly increased to a large quantity;
(b) whether it will consider reducing the rents for the government sites which have been leased to recyclable waste collectors on short-term tenancies, so as to help them tide over the present difficult times;
(c) how the Government determines when it is necessary to coordinate or assist the operation of the recycling industry; and
(d) given that it has been reported that the shrinkage of the recycling industry will further shorten the life of the three landfills, whether the Government has comprehensively reviewed the current environmental protection policy, so as to prevent our environment from deteriorating as a result of the shrinkage of the recycling industry?
Reply:
President,
(a) All trades and industries in Hong Kong have been hit by the global financial tsunami, and the recycling industry is no exception. The recovery price of waste paper has plummeted from the peak of about HK$2,000 per tonne to the present HK$700 per tonne. Nevertheless, the information we have obtained shows that the export of waste paper has generally remained normal. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is closely monitoring the waste disposal at landfills. For the time being there is no sign of large quantity of recyclables being delivered to landfills for disposal.
(b)&(c) The Government will continue to lease short-term tenancy sites exclusively to the recycling trade to provide affordable land resources to them. There are currently 35 such sites with an aggregate area of 7 hectares. It is estimated that the waste processed on these sites represents about 16% of the territory's total. Moreover, to cater for the trade's common needs, the Government has taken a series of measures to help the trade tackle their cash-flow problem, such as prompt amendment of the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme (SGS). The EPD has disseminated the message to the recycling trade associations immediately to encourage them to make use of the SGS to tide over the difficult times. Moreover, the Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the trade to actively study other measures that will help alleviate their difficulties, and provide them with appropriate support.
(d) Indeed Hong Kong is faced with a serious and pressing waste problem. To solve the problem in a comprehensive manner, we have to adopt a three-pronged approach of waste reduction at source, waste recovery and modern waste treatment facilities. All these three elements are indispensable. In this connection, the Government has been promoting green living, for example, avoiding excessive packaging and switching to reusable tableware. In addition, an environmental levy will be imposed to deter the indiscriminate use of consumables such as plastic shopping bags. The Government has also been pushing ahead with waste recovery and recycling. To this end, a package of measures has been adopted, such as promoting source separation of waste in housing estates and commercial buildings, placing 3-coloured waste separation bins in public areas and implementing producer responsibility schemes for various products. To facilitate recycling of recovered materials, the Government supports the development of environmental industry through the EcoPark and green procurement. For unavoidable waste, the Government plans to construct integrated waste management facilities to achieve bulk reduction of waste. These policies and measures are complementary to each other in helping Hong Kong achieve sustainable development.
As mentioned above, we will closely monitor changes in the economic environment and review waste management policies and measures from time to time. In particular, we will strengthen communication with the environmental industry, and actively consider and implement measures aimed at supporting the industry to ensure that our environment will not be affected by economic problems.
Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:56
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