Garage owner and collector convicted of illegal handling and collection of waste vehicle batteries (with photo)
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     A garage owner in Yuen Long illegally handed waste vehicle lead acid batteries (WLABs) to a non-licensed collector. They were fined a total of $14,000 by Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (August 1) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     During an enforcement operation in January, Environmental Protection Department (EPD) staff found that the owner of a garage in Yuen Long handed WLABs, which are classified as chemical waste, to an unlicensed waste collector. Upon investigation, the EPD initiated prosecution against the garage owner and the collector.

     An EPD spokesman said, "The EPD has stepped up blitz operations against illegal collection and handling of chemical waste, including WLABs. There were 44 convictions for illegal collection and handling of WLABs in the first half of 2017, involving a total fine of nearly $400,000. Among these cases, 13 concerned the illegal handing of waste batteries to non-licensed waste collectors by garage owners.

     "WLABs contain sulphuric acid and lead, and are classified as chemical waste. Operators engaged in vehicle repairing businesses should comply with the legal requirements and engage in the services of licensed chemical waste collectors to properly handle their waste vehicle batteries, so as to avoid committing an offence and being prosecuted."

     According to the law, shops providing vehicle battery replacement or vehicle repair services and thereby generating chemical waste must register with the EPD as chemical waste producers. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored as stipulated by law, and must be delivered by licensed chemical waste collectors to the EPD's licensed chemical waste treatment facilities for disposal. For replacement of car batteries, vehicle owners should engage the services of registered vehicle repair shops or companies. Anyone who illegally collects, stores or disposes of chemical waste commits an offence and will be prosecuted. 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 detailed information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.

Ends/Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:55

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