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LCQ15: Operation Green Fence
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     Following is a question by the Hon Tony Tse Wai-chuen and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (June 5):

QuestionĄG

     It has been reported that the Mainland Customs launched the "Operation Green Fence" in February this year to tighten up the testing standards for imported waste and to ban the import of all waste which may pollute the environment such as used clothing, electronic waste, plastic waste, etc. As a result, a large quantity of waste to be exported and re-exported from Hong Kong has been stranded here, causing great pressure to Hong Kong's waste recyclers and landfills. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it has assessed the quantity of waste stranded in Hong Kong as a result of the import ban imposed by the Mainland Customs since the launching of the Operation Green Fence; if it has, of the respective quantities of waste piled up at recycling yards and sent to landfills for disposal, with a breakdown by type of waste, as well as the percentages of the quantities of various types of waste in the total quantities of the corresponding types of waste in 2012; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it will seek information from the recyclers on the situation of stranded waste in Hong Kong;

(b) whether the authorities had, prior to the launching of the Operation Green Fence by the Mainland Customs, assessed the impact of the operation on Hong Kong, and whether they had discussed the issue with the relevant Mainland authorities; if they had, of the assessment and discussion results, the counter measures to cope with the situation and the discrepancy between the assessment results and the prevailing actual situations; if they had not, the reasons for that, and whether they have reviewed if the foresight and alertness of the authorities are inadequate;

(c) whether it has assessed if the waste stranded in Hong Kong as a result of the import ban imposed by the Mainland Customs will continue to increase; if the assessment result is in the affirmative, of the respective growth rates of various types of waste; if the assessment result is in the negative, the reasons for that; and

(d) whether it has assessed the impact on Hong Kong of the continuous increase in the waste stranded in Hong Kong; if it has, of the assessment results and the counter measures to cope with the situation, and whether it will discuss the issue with the relevant Mainland authorities; if it has not, the reasons for that, and whether it will make an assessment as soon as possible?

Reply:

President,

(a)  The Mainland law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have launched the "Operation Green Fence" (OGF) since February 2013. In April this year, the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Mainland met with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) and briefed them on the objectives and requirements of the OGF. It is noted that the Mainland LEAs have, pursuant to existing national legislations concerning control over the import and export of waste, stepped up interception of any waste (such as "foreign waste") which is unlawfully imported and may pollute the environment. To strictly implement the relevant national standards, they have also inspected recycled and reusable waste imported into the Mainland. Recycled and reusable materials meeting the national standards will not be affected and can be imported into the Mainland as usual.

     The EPD is closely monitoring the handling and return shipment of unlawfully imported waste by the Mainland. It has also actively followed up on the processing arrangements for waste returned to Hong Kong. As at end May this year, the EPD has received one report from the Mainland regarding waste aluminum (20 tonnes) returned to Hong Kong after import was rejected by the Mainland.  Follow up action is being taken to ensure that such waste will be processed lawfully.

     The EPD is also closely monitoring waste disposal at landfills in parallel to ensure that waste imported into Hong Kong is not disposed of at landfills. From March to end May this year, about 70 tonnes of plastic waste were delivered to landfills. After thorough examination, the EPD found that such waste was generated locally and unsuitable for recycling due to its mixture with other waste and serious contamination.  It was disposed of eventually.

(b) Generally speaking, relevant agencies will not give prior notification of their enforcement action.  However, after the launch of the OGF, the EPD has met with the relevant departments of the Mainland and has maintained a close dialogue with the local recycling trade.  The EPD has disseminated the official messages from the Mainland to local recyclers so as to help them meet the relevant import standards and requirements. In addition, to prevent imported waste from being stranded in Hong Kong in case of return shipment, the EPD wrote to various shipping companies in March this year to remind them to comply with local legislations concerning the import and export of waste and with the relevant requirements on return shipment.

(c) and (d) We understand that in the short term some of the waste for transshipment and import into the Mainland via Hong Kong may be stranded here briefly due to the enforcement action by the Mainland. However, in response to the restrictions on import into the Mainland, the industry is reducing its import of waste into Hong Kong and changing the operation of waste recycling and processing. At the same time it is identifying other outlets for processing of the waste. Therefore, we believe that the overall volume of waste to be deposited in Hong Kong will not increase continuously in the long run.

     Regarding the recycled materials collected locally, the EPD is also closely monitoring the recovery of materials at residential estates as well as commercial and industrial buildings and maintaining close liaison with the property management sector. If individual estates or buildings have difficulty in finding an outlet for recovered materials, the EPD will help them identity suitable recyclers or contact Yan Oi Tong EcoPark Plastic Resources Recycling Centre so as to ensure that these buildings can continue with source separation of waste. At the same time, the EPD will continue to keep contact with relevant departments in the Mainland to understand the latest development of the OGF.  As the OGF mainly targets at sub-standard waste and waste which is banned from import into the Mainland, the lawful import of non-contaminated recyclables from Hong Kong into the Mainland will not be affected.  Although we anticipate that some of the recycled materials may fail to meet the Mainland's standards for import due to their mixture with other waste and contamination, thus causing a slight increase in the waste delivered to landfills, the EPD is closely monitoring the market trends and will continue to maintain close liaison with the recycling industry and monitor its operation.  The Government will also step up publicity and education to raise the awareness of the recycling industry and the public that recyclables cannot be mixed with other waste and that waste should be separated carefully.

Ends/Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:55

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