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Joint departmental operation combats irregularities at recycling sites in Hung Lung Hang, North District (with photos)
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     The Government held a joint departmental operation during the period between September 26 and October 4 to conduct ambushes at a number of recycling sites in North District in the New Territories. During the operation, it was found that nine recycling sites were suspected to have illegally collected and stored a large quantity of chemical waste. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is now investigating the people involved and gathering evidence in preparation for instituting prosecutions.

     An EPD spokesman said today (October 6) that the joint blitz operation, entitled "Operation Dawn", was jointly conducted by the EPD, the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Hong Kong Police Force and the Planning Department (PlanD) for stepping up the enforcement actions against irregularities at recycling sites. The EPD and the relevant departments conducted ambushes at a number of open waste recycling sites in North District to check whether their operations comply with relevant legal requirements on pollution control, fire safety and land planning.

     During "Operation Dawn", the EPD found that nine waste recycling sites in Hung Lung Hang, North District, were involved in illegal collection and storage of large quantities of chemical waste, and thus are suspected to have contravened the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation. The chemical waste seized during the operation mainly comprised LCDs, totalling around 3 500 pieces (including about 1 100 large-sized waste LCDs measuring more than 60 inches each) with an estimated total market export value of over $2 million.

     During the joint operation, EPD officers also collected water and soil samples at nearby areas to check whether the operations of the recycling sites have affected the surrounding environment, while the FSD reminded the responsible people of the recycling sites and their staff about fire safety requirements. The PlanD is also investigating whether any recycling sites have contravened the regulation on land-use planning.

     The spokesman said, "Any person who collects, stores, disposes of, imports or exports chemical waste must apply for a permit from the EPD. However, the nine recycling sites concerned have not obtained the required approval."

     General use and normal selling of LCD monitors will not constitute danger. However, if a recycling site is involved in the collection, storage, dismantling, disposal or import and export of a large quantity of waste LCD monitors, which contain heavy metals (such as mercury and cadmium) as well as toxic organic compounds in a form, quantity or concentration that would cause pollution or constitute a danger to health, it is regulated under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation. As waste lead-acid batteries contain sulphuric acid and lead, they are classified as chemical waste.

     The spokesman stressed, "All chemical waste must be properly handled to avoid causing pollution to the environment or affecting public health. The EPD and relevant departments will continuously conduct joint enforcement operations against illegal activities at waste recycling sites."

     The EPD reminds waste recycling site operators and those who are engaged in the collection, import and export of recyclables to strictly comply with the legal requirements in handling chemical waste. Chemical waste must be collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to the EPD's licensed chemical waste treatment facilities for disposal. Any persons who wish to import or export chemical waste require a permit issued by the EPD. It is an offence for anyone to collect, store, dispose of, import or export chemical waste not according to the legal requirements. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     Members of the public may visit the EPD's website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.
 
Ends/Thursday, October 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:18
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Today's Press Releases  

Photo

The Environmental Protection Department, the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Planning Department held a joint operation between September 26 and October 4 to conduct surprise inspections at a number of waste recycling sites in Hung Lung Hang in North District in the New Territories.
About 3 500 waste LCD monitors were seized (including 1 100 large-sized waste LCD monitors measuring more than 60 inches each), with a total estimated export value of over $2 million, during a joint operation held by the Environmental Protection Department between September 26 and October 4 on open recycling sites in Hung Lung Hang in North District.
During a joint operation on open recycling sites in Hung Lung Hang in North District held between September 26 and October 4, an Environmental Protection Department officer collects water and soil samples at a nearby area.