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In response to a media report about suspected works relating to the extension of the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill being carried out ahead of approval, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) made the following clarification today (August 2):
The soil stockpiling site in the WENT Landfill covering an area of about 1.5 hectares falls within the boundary of the landfill contract. The site is the Borrow Area where the landfill contractor (SITA Waste Services Limited) can stockpile soil for future use and daily operations in accordance with the relevant operational requirements. Both the EPD and the contractor have not carried out any works relating to the extension of the landfill ahead of approval.
The landfill area in the contract drawing has remained the same since the contract was awarded in 1993. As part of the landfill operation, the contractor can carry out site formation, soil excavation and storage works within the Borrow Area for operational needs. As past construction projects in Hong Kong have already provided sufficient fill, it is unnecessary for the contractor to carry out large-scale soil excavation works in the Borrow Area. In early 2012, the contractor started to store inert construction materials received (such as fill and aggregate) at the Borrow Area for reuse in the construction of temporary haul roads and cappings in the landfill. When these materials are being temporarily stored at the Borrow Area, the contractor will cover aggregate on the stored stockpile face to prevent dust dispersion.
Ends/Friday, August 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:00
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