SEN inspects temporary wood waste collection area in Kai Tak Development Area (with photos)

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     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, visited an area set aside for temporary wood waste collection in the Kai Tak Development Area this afternoon (September 24) to learn more about its operation.

     In response to the huge amount of broken or fallen trees caused by Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) jointly set up the collection area for the public to deliver the remains of fallen trees and branches for temporary stockpiling, with a view to prioritising the clearance of tree waste. Another objective is to improve the waiting time of waste collection vehicles at various refuse transfer stations and maintain their operational efficiency.

     Since the opening of the collection area on September 21, as at 5pm today almost 1000 truckloads of wood waste had been delivered there for temporary stockpiling.

     The EPD will select a suitable portion of the stockpiled materials from the collection area for delivery to the Animal Waste Composting Plant at Ngau Tam Mei for treatment and recycling into compost, which will then be utilised by local educational, social welfare, charity and horticultural organisations and farmers. In addition, some suitable materials will also be utilised by the Organic Resources Recovery Centre Phase 1 in Siu Ho Wan.

     Tree trunks can be reused while leaves and branches can be turned into compost. In order to encourage waste reduction and resources recycling, the EPD welcomes interested parties or members of the public to collect wood or leaves suitable for recycling and reuse at the collection area. The public can call the EPD hotline (Tel: 3741 1823 or 3741 1822) for registration in advance. As of today, the EPD had received about 60 calls from groups and members of the public who expressed an interest in reusing the stockpiled wood waste.

     Mr Wong said that the Environment Bureau and the EPD have all along been encouraging government departments and the community to adopt the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle to minimise yard waste. He thanked the CEDD and especially frontline staff members who have to be on duty on the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival for their flexible support in facilitating the collection of tree waste for recycling and conversion into resources.

Ends/Monday, September 24, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:22

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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing (right), visits an area set aside for temporary wood waste collection in the Kai Tak Development Area this afternoon (September 24) to learn more about its operation.

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing (left), visits an area set aside for temporary wood waste collection in the Kai Tak Development Area this afternoon (September 24) to learn more about its operation.