Recycling site's responsible person jailed for repeated illegal storage of hazardous e-waste (with photos)
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An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that during a joint operation entitled "Operation Dawn" in September last year, the EPD and relevant departments conducted surprise inspections at various open recycling sites at Hung Lung Hang in North District to check if they had violated relevant regulations on pollution control, fire safety and landuse planning. During the operation, the EPD intercepted a large quantity of regulated hazardous e-waste at four recycling sites, including waste LCD monitors and waste lead-acid batteries. Following a thorough investigation and the collection of evidence, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the involved parties of the four recycling sites. The above-mentioned responsible person had already been prosecuted by the EPD and convicted twice last year for illegal storage of hazardous e-waste, which was classified as chemical waste. He also attempted to obstruct EPD staff in carrying out enforcement duties by shutting the entrance gate to the recycling site, indicating the seriousness of the offence.
The spokesman said, "The court sentence this time can strengthen the deterrent effect on illegal handling of e-waste by recycling sites. The EPD will continue to conduct joint enforcement operations with relevant departments to strictly combat the illegal collection, storage, disposal, import and export of hazardous e-waste by recycling sites and will initiate prosecutions against offenders."
The spokesman said that if a recycling site is involved in the collection, storage, dismantling, disposal, or import and export of hazardous e-waste such as waste LCD monitors, waste lead-acid batteries, or dismantled or destroyed printed circuits boards which are classified as chemical waste, it is regulated under the existing laws on chemical waste disposal. Chemical waste contains heavy metals and other toxic substances and is hazardous by nature. It will pollute the environment and cause hazards to trade practitioners and the public if not controlled properly. Hence, the Government has been applying stringent control of the recycling and handling of hazardous e-waste in accordance with the existing law.
The EPD reminds recycling operators that they should strictly comply with the existing law on the control of chemical waste already enacted in 1992. They should register with the EPD in accordance with the law if they produce chemical waste. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored, as well as being collected by licensed chemical waste collectors for delivery to the licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for disposal. A permit has to be obtained from the EPD for exporting such waste to designated chemical waste facilities overseas for recycling or disposal. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years' 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/Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:35
Issued at HKT 18:35
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