************************
Following is a question by the Hon Audrey Eu and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (December 3):
Question:
Some members of the recycling industry have said that since the onset of the financial tsunami, the recyclable material market has shrunk rapidly, with orders for the export of recyclable materials such as waste metals and waste plastics decreasing significantly, and large quantities of recyclable materials may eventually be dumped at landfills. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the quantity of local recyclable materials exported in each of the past three months;
(b) whether it has assessed the impact of the recent situation of the recyclable material market on the territory-wide Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste implemented by the Environmental Protection Department; if it has, of the outcome; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) given that the recyclable material market was affected for several times in the past by external market conditions and fluctuated significantly, whether the Government has taken any new measure to improve the business environment of the recycling industry?
Reply:
President,
(a) Waste paper, scrap iron and waste plastic are the major recyclables exported by Hong Kong, totaling about 90% of the recyclables. Statistics of these recyclables exported from January to October this year are shown in the Annex. The latest data available are only up to the end of October this year.
Although October saw less were exported than September, the future export trend is yet to be ascertained as the statistics for the whole year indicate the quantities exported fluctuated considerably from month to month. Based on information obtained from different recycling trades, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) found that the export activities for waste paper, scrap iron and waste plastic have remained normal.
(b) The EPD has been closely monitoring the recent recovery under the Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste (SSDW Programme). Over the past few weeks, the department checked with all the over 980 participating estates and learned that for the majority of them the source separation of waste has been operating as usual. Some estates reported difficulties in waste recovery but with the assistance of the EPD, the recovery services are largely back to normal. The EPD will continue to help those estates which have difficulties to ensure that source separation of waste will not suffer any setback.
(c) The Government has been proactively pushing ahead with various initiatives on managing municipal solid waste, which aim at promoting the local recycling industry in addition to reducing waste.
On source separation of waste, the present participation of more than 980 estates in the SSDW Programme means a coverage of 51% of the population. As for the commercial and industrial sectors, a programme on source separation of commercial and industrial waste has currently over 400 participants, including different types of commercial and industrial buildings, government composite office buildings, tertiary institutions, the Hospital Authority and the Airport Authority.
To prepare for the development on source separation of waste, we have just completed amending the Building (Refuse Storage and Material Recovery Chambers and Refuse Chutes) Regulation in the last legislative session. Under the amended Regulation, which has just come into effect on December 1, 2008, all new domestic buildings and the domestic part of new composite buildings are required to provide a refuse storage and material recovery room on every floor to ensure sufficient space for the installation of recycling facilities to facilitate residents' participation in recycling activities.
In addition to placing 3-coloured waste separation bins in public areas, we also provide them free of charge to estates as well as commercial and industrial buildings upon request through the Environmental Campaign Committee. Such applications have started since early December. Any buildings that need to provide additional separation facilities on different floors can apply to the Environment and Conservation Fund for funding support. The funding ceiling for each floor is $800.
After the passage of the Product Eco-responsibility Bill on July 10, 2008 by this Council, the imposition of environmental levy on plastic shopping bags will be the first producer responsibility scheme introduced under the related ordinance. We will submit the relevant subsidiary legislation to this Council shortly. With the assistance of the trades concerned, we have implemented a number of voluntary producer responsibility schemes including the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programme, Computer Recycling Programme, Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Programme and Glass Container Recycling Programme, which will pave the way for the comprehensive implementation of the respective producer responsibility schemes. The Government will actively consider enacting legislation to implement mandatory producer responsibility schemes for other electrical products. The public and the respective trades will be consulted on the proposals in due course.
We will continue our efforts in developing the EcoPark. There are a total of six lots in Phase I of the EcoPark. As of to-date, four lots have been awarded for recycling of waste wood, used cooking oil, computers and waste plastic. Of the remaining two lots, tender evaluation in respect of the one designated for recycling scrap iron is at the final stage, while invitation for tender for the one designated for recycling various materials will be issued by the end of this year.
In response to the financial tsunami, the Government has amended the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme (SGS) to help the small and medium enterprises with cash-flow problem tide over the difficult times. To cater for the special needs of the recycling industry, the Government is considering other measures as well, for example identifying more short-term tenancy sites and other support measures. The EPD has met representatives from the recycling trade associations, non-governmental organisations and individuals on several occasions to brief them on the latest relief measures and listen to their further suggestions. We will continue to examine various short-term relief measures so as to mitigate the effect of the fluctuating market situation on the trade.
Ends/Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:10
NNNN
