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Press Release
Potential sites for Integrated Waste Management Facilities identified
After a thorough search using professional and comprehensive site selection criteria, the Government has identified Tsang Tsui in Tuen Mun and Shek Kwu Chau to the south of Lantau Island as potential sites for the development of Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMF). The two potential sites were identified after taking into account environmental, ecological, planning, traffic, technical/engineering and economic considerations, as well as social impact.
The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, said today (January 29) that the amount of municipal solid waste generated in the territory had been increasing over the years, with some 17,000 tonnes generated each day in 2006, which was 30% more than 10 years ago.
But thanks to proactive public education, the promotion of source separation and the introduction of the construction waste charging scheme, the recovery rates of municipal solid waste had risen to 45% in 2006 and the total waste disposed at the landfills had dropped by 1% in 2006.
"Still, there remains a pressing need for the adoption of advanced technologies to reduce the volume of waste in view of the fact that the capacity of the three existing landfills is depleting fast and will be exhausted in the coming four to eight years," he said.
The IWMF will employ incineration as the core technology to reduce waste volume and to recover energy. A demonstration-scale sorting and recycling facility will also be included. As part of the multi-technology waste management strategy, the Government is also developing an Organic Waste Treatment Facility at a separate location to treat source-separated organic waste from the commercial and industrial sectors.
"We will develop the thermal treatment facilities in phases. To achieve good economy of scale and making reference to the capacity of similar facilities in other densely populated cities with similar demographic and geographic situations, the first phase occupying an area of about 10 hectares will have a treatment capacity of about 3,000 tonnes per day," Mr Yau said.
"The planned incinerator will adopt state-of-the-art thermal technology and will comply with stringent emission standards. Also, the facility will generate electricity that will be put to gainful use and will create employment opportunities for the community.
"We will engage the District Councils concerned and interested parties to hear their views. Overseas experience shows that modern incinerators can operate safely and blend in harmoniously with local communities," he said.
"We will conduct engineering as well as Environmental Impact Assessment studies for both sites to ascertain their overall viability. This prudent approach will enable us to stay on track with the programme to commission the facilities in the mid 2010s.
"In the meantime, we will continue our efforts to vigorously promote the 4Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle and responsibility – so as to keep our waste generation in check," he added.
Ends/Tuesday, January 29, 2008
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