**********************************************************
The Clinical Waste Control Scheme will come into operation next Monday (August 1), a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said today (July 25).
Clinical waste may contain infectious materials and sharps and is potentially dangerous. The control scheme is to ensure that the concerned parties will handle and manage their clinical waste with due care so as to minimise any danger to public health or risk of pollution to the environment.
"Starting from August 1, clinical waste producers must arrange for licensed collectors to collect and transport their clinical waste to the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre for proper disposal," the spokesman said.
The regulatory provisions of the Control Scheme are included in the Waste Disposal Ordinance, the Waste Disposal (Clinical Waste) (General) Regulation and the Waste Disposal (Charge for Disposal of Clinical Waste) Regulation. Under the Control Scheme, collection and disposal of clinical waste are subject to licence control. Waste collectors and disposal facility operators must obtain a valid licence from the EPD before providing services for collection or disposal of clinical waste. The disposal of clinical waste at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre is subject to a charge of around $2.7 per kilogramme.
"It will be an offence not to comply with the regulatory provisions, e.g. carrying out collection and disposal of clinical waste without a licence or failure to arrange for proper disposal of clinical waste. Offenders could face a maximum fine ranging from $50,000 to $200,000," the spokesman added.
The EPD has extensively briefed the trades and relevant stakeholders on the control scheme. A dedicated website, at www.epd.gov.hk/epd/clinicalwaste, has also been set up to disseminate detailed information. Enquiries can also be made on the EPD's hotline at 2835 1055.
Ends/Monday, July 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:05
NNNN
