6. Waste Management

Introduction

6.1 This section identifies the types of waste which are likely to be generated during the construction phase of the Project, and evaluates the potential environmental impacts that may result from the waste generation.

6.2 Mitigation measures and good site practices, including waste handling, storage and disposal, have been recommended with reference to relevant waste legislation and management guidelines. Handling and disposal of contaminated sediments have also been discussed.

Environmental Legislation

6.3 The criteria and guidelines for assessing waste management implications are outlined in Annex 7 and Annex 15 of the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM), respectively.

6.4 The following legislation also cover the handling, treatment and disposal of waste in Hong Kong:

Ÿ Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354);

Ÿ Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation (Cap. 354C);

Ÿ Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28);

Ÿ Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) - Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation;

Ÿ Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Cap. 354N); and

Ÿ Dumping at Sea Ordinance (Cap. 466).

Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354)

6.5 The Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) prohibits any unauthorized disposal of waste. Construction waste, defined under Cap. 354N of the WDO, refers to a substance, matter or thing which is generated from construction works. It includes all abandoned materials, whether processed or stockpiled or not, before being abandoned, but does not include sludge, screenings or matter removed or generated from desludging, desilting or dredging works. Under the WDO, waste can be disposed of only at designated waste disposal facilities licensed by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).

Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation (Cap. 354C)

6.6 Under the WDO, the Chemical Waste (General) Regulation provides regulations for chemical waste control, and administers the possession, storage, collection, transport and disposal of chemical waste. EPD has also issued the Code of Practice on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes (1992), which details how the chemical waste producers should comply with the regulations on chemical waste.

Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132)

6.7 The Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation provides control on illegal tipping of waste on unauthorized (unlicensed) sites.

Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28)

6.8 The inert portion of Construction and Demolition (C&D) materials (including rocks, soil, broken concrete, building debris, etc.) may be taken to Public Fill Reception Facilities (PFRFs). PFRFs usually form part of land reclamation schemes and are operated by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and others. The Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance requires that individuals or companies who deliver public fill to the public fill reception facilities are required to obtain Dumping Licences. The licences are issued by CEDD under delegated authority from the Director of Lands.

6.9 Individual licences and windscreen stickers are issued for each vehicle involved. Under the licence conditions, public fill reception facilities will only accept soil, sand, rubble, brick, tile, rock, boulder, concrete, asphalt, masonry or used bentonite. In addition, in accordance with paragraph 11 of the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau (ETWB) Technical Circular (Works) (TC(W)) No. 31/2004, Public Fill Committee will advise on the acceptance criteria. The material will, however, be free from marine mud, household refuse, plastic, metal, industrial and chemical wastes, animal and vegetable matter and any other materials considered unsuitable by the public fill reception facility supervisor.

Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Cap. 354N)

6.10 Under the Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation enacted in January 2006, construction waste delivered to a landfill for disposal must not contain more than 50% by weight of inert material. Construction waste delivered to a sorting facility for disposal must contain more than 50% by weight of inert material, and construction waste delivered to a PFRF for disposal must consist entirely of inert material.

Dumping at Sea Ordinance (Cap. 466) (DASO)

6.11 This Ordinance came into operation in April 1995 and empowers the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) to control the disposal and incineration of substances and particles at sea for the protection of the marine environment. Under the Ordinance, a dumping permit from the DEP is required for the disposal of regulated substances within and outside the waters of Hong Kong. The permit contains terms and conditions which include the following specifications:

Ÿ Type and quantity of substances permitted to be dumped;

Ÿ Location of the disposal grounds;

Ÿ Requirement of equipment for monitoring the disposal operations; and

Ÿ Environmental monitoring requirements.

6.12 Marine disposal of any dredged sediment is subject to control under the Dumping at Sea Ordinance. Dredged sediment destined for marine disposal is classified based on its contaminant levels with reference to the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau Technical Circular (Works) No. 34/2002 - Management of Dredged/Excavated Sediment (ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002). The ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002 stipulated a set of sediment quality criteria or Chemical Exceedance Levels (CEL) for contaminants including metals, metalloid and organic pollutants. Details of ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002 are discussed in the section below.

Environmental Guidelines

6.13 Other guidelines which detail how the Contractor should comply with are as follow:

Ÿ A Guide to the Registration of Chemical Waste Producers, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong;

Ÿ A Guide to the Chemical Waste Control Scheme, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong;

Ÿ Code of Practice on Package, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes (1992), Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong;

Ÿ Works Branch Technical Circular (WBTC) No. 2/93, Public Dumps;

Ÿ Works Branch Technical Circular No. 2/93B, Public Filling Facilities;

Ÿ ETWB TC(W) No. 33/2002, Management of Construction/Demolition Materials including Rocks;

Ÿ ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002 - Management of Dredged/Excavated Sediment;

Ÿ ETWB TC(W) No. 31/2004, Trip-ticket System for Disposal of Construction and Demolition Materials; and

Ÿ ETWB TC(W) No. 19/2005, Environmental Management on Construction Sites.

6.14 Current policy related to the disposal of C&D materials is documented in the WBTC No. 2/93, ‘Public Dumps’. C&D materials that are wholly inert, namely public fill, should not be disposed of at landfill, but be taken to PFRFs, which usually form part of reclamation schemes. The Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance requires the dumping licenses to be obtained by individuals or companies who deliver public fill to PFRFs. The CEDD issues the licenses under delegated powers from the Director of Lands.

6.15 In accordance with the ETWB TC(W) No. 31/2004 ‘Trip Ticket System for Disposal of Construction and Demolition Materials’, all contracts that are expected to generate inert C&D materials (e.g. soil, broken rock, broken concrete and building debris, etc) requiring disposal from site, the project office shall write to the Public Fill Committee (PFC) through Secretary of the PFC to request a designated disposal ground for incorporation into the tender documents. For contracts where the estimated amount of non-inert C&D materials requiring disposal at landfill facilities equal or exceed 50m³, the project office shall seek confirmation from the DEP in terms of the availability of landfill facilities for disposal of such materials. The DEP will designate landfill facilities, if available, for the contract. Where the estimated amount of non-inert C&D materials to be generated from the contract is less than 50m³, the project office is not required to apply to DEP for designated landfill facilities. However, the project office should still specify in the tender documents of the appropriate landfill facilities (e.g. SENT Landfill at Tseung Kwan O, NENT Landfill at Ta Kwu Ling and WENT Landfill at Nim Wan) for disposal.

6.16 Further measures are introduced under ETWB TC(W) No. 33/2002, that management of C&D materials, including rocks are strengthened and their generation at sources are minimized. The enhancement measures include: (i) drafting of a Construction and Demolition Material Management Plan (C&DMMP) at an early design stage to minimize C&D materials generation and encourage proper management of such materials; (ii) vetting of the C&DMMP prior to upgrading of the project to Category A in the Public Works Programme; and (iii) providing the contractor with information from the C&DMMP in order to facilitate the preparation of the Waste Management Plan (WMP) and to minimize C&D materials generation during construction. Projects generating C&D materials or importing fill material less than 50,000m³are exempted from the C&DMMP.

6.17 The ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002 sets out the procedure for seeking approval to and the management framework for marine disposal of dredged/ excavated sediment. This Practice Note outlines the requirements to be followed in assessing and classifying the sediment and explains the marine disposal arrangement for the classified material. The sediment quality criteria for the classification of sediments are referred as the Lower Chemical Exceedance Level (LCEL) and Upper Chemical Exceedance Level (UCEL). The LCEL and UCEL are presented in Appendix A of ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002. Subject to the results of the chemical screening, biological screening may be required to determine the disposal requirement of the sediment.

6.18 The final determination of the appropriate disposal options, routing and the allocation of a permit to dispose of material at a designated site shall be determined in accordance with ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002. Three types of disposal options for dredged / excavated sediments are stipulated in the ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002: Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal or Open Sea Disposal in Dedicated Sites, Type 2 – Confined Marine Disposal and Type 3 – Special Treatment / Disposal. For Type 3 disposal, the Authorized Persons / Registered Structural Engineers shall be responsible for identifying and agreeing with the DEP the most appropriate treatment and/or disposal arrangement. The determination of the appropriate disposal options shall be based on the sediment classification and if necessary, the biological screening results.

Assessment Approach and Methodology

6.19 The methodology for assessing the potential waste management impacts during construction of the Project includes the following tasks:

Ÿ Estimation of types and quantities of the wastes generated;

Ÿ Assessment of potential impacts from the management of the waste with respect to potential hazards, air and odour emissions, noise, wastewater discharge and public transport;

Ÿ Evaluation of the opportunities for reducing waste generation;

Ÿ Identification of disposal options for each type of waste; and

Ÿ Assessment of impacts on the capacity of waste collection, transfer and disposal facilities.

Identification of Waste Sources

6.20 The construction programme is tentatively scheduled to commence in 2012 for completion in early 2014. The types of waste generated and their respective sources during the construction phase are tabulated in Table 6.1.

Table 6.1 Identification of Waste Types and Sources in Construction Phase of the Project

Waste Types	Sources of Waste Identified	Examples
*Construction Phase*
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials	Ÿ Excavated materials generated from construction of railway tunnel structure Ÿ Materials generated from relocation of the temporary Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) jetty within the CWB temporary reclamation to a new location Ÿ Demolition of temporary reclamation	Ÿ Inert C&D materials (i) Rocks (ii) Soft materials (fill, etc.) (iii) Artificial Hard Materials (AHM) (concrete, etc) Ÿ Non – inert C&D materials (i) Timbers, papers and plastic etc.
Sediments*	Ÿ Dredging of sediment in the area for temporary seawall and reclamation for SCL Protection Works and temporary mooring area offshore to Tong Lo Wan Fire Station. Ÿ The works area where sediment is likely to be generated is shown in Figure Nos. NEX2213/C/361/ENS/M58/501-502.	Ÿ Marine deposits, Anthropogenic Mud
Chemical waste	Ÿ Plant operations and maintenance Ÿ Maintenance of mechanical equipments	Ÿ Oil and grease; scrap batteries; used paint and cleaners etc.
General refuse	Ÿ Construction works and site-based staff and workers	Ÿ Food waste, containers, cans and waste papers etc.

* Parts of the dredging area under this Project overlap with areas assessed and authorized under the CWB project. The overlapping areas would not be assessed under this EIA Study.

6.21 Floating waste commonly present in Victoria Harbour, is another identified waste type within the project area. The Project itself is not designed to generate floating waste. Some refuse and debris may be unintentionally brought from the site into the harbour during heavy rains or typhoons. Nevertheless, it is considered that the quantity of floating refuse generated from this situation would be limited.

Predicted and Evaluation of Waste Impacts for Construction Phase

6.22 The types of waste generated during construction phase include:

Ÿ C&D Materials;

Ÿ Sediments;

Ÿ Chemical Waste; and

Ÿ General Refuse.

Construction and Demolition Materials

6.23 Owing to the combined effects from urban setting and nature of engineering constraints, the available schemes for construction of railway facilities and tunnels are limited, hindering the minimization of generation. Notwithstanding, the following measures have been taken to minimize quantity of C&D materials:

Ÿ Constant design reviews in striving to optimise the scheme proposals;

Ÿ Minimal interference with existing structures to reduce the quantity of demolition materials;

Ÿ Proposed use of prefabricated materials where possible; and

Ÿ Reuse of existing structures in the design where possible.

6.24 Demolition materials (Artificial Hard Material (AHM)), such as broken concrete and building debris, are from the relocation of temporary RHKYC jetty. A total of about 300m³ of AHM would be generated. Materials recovered should be recycled or reused as far as possible. Metals would be separated from AHM, which would be disposed of at PFRFs.

6.25 Excavated materials, which include rocks and soft materials, would be generated from excavation works. It is estimated that the total excavated C&D materials would be about 14,100m³ (sum of rock and soft materials).

6.26 The following non-inert C&D materials would also be generated during construction phase:

Ÿ Timber from formwork; and

Ÿ Papers & plastics.

6.27 About 300m³ of non-inert C&D materials would be generated, which would be reused and recycled as much as possible before disposal of at landfills. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to separate the inert and non-inert C&D materials on site.

6.28 The total volume of inert C&D materials generated from demolition and excavation works is estimated to be about 14,400m³. With limited space within the project sites, it is not practicable to stockpile the excavated materials for subsequent backfilling. All of the excavated materials have, therefore, to be exported off-site. The inert C&D materials generated would be reused as far as practicable at other concurrent project. The C&D material would be transported from the site to the designated disposal ground by means of marine transportation, following the same practice of the CWB project. A summary of inert C&D materials generated during construction phase is shown in Table 6.2. Detailed yearly waste breakdown was provided in Appendix 6.1.

Table 6.2 Summary of Inert Construction and Demolition Materials Quantities Generated

Works Area	Rock (Grade I to III) (m³)	Soft Material (Fill, etc.) (m³)	Artificial Hard Materials (m³)	Off Site Disposal (m³)	Disposal Site
SCL Protection Works at CBTS (ME4)	1,600	12,500	300	14,400	Surplus Material will be reused at other concurrent projects or delivered to PFRFs

6.29 The other possibilities of reusing the inert C&D materials in other concurrent projects or outlets include following projects:

Ÿ The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) (consists of two parts: Hong Kong Link Road (HKLR) and Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF);

Ÿ The Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (TMCLKL);

Ÿ Central Wanchai Bypass (CWB) and Wanchai Development Phase II (WDII); and

Ÿ If all reuse outlets of C&D materials are exhausted during the construction phase, the C&D Materials would be disposed of at Taishan, China as a last resort.

6.30 Surplus inert C&D materials generated from the Project may be delivered to two PFRFs operated by CEDD which are Tuen Mun Area 38 Fill Bank and Tseung Kwan O Area 137 Fill Bank. A C&DMMP has been prepared which is currently under review by RDO and will then be submitted to PFC for endorsement and onward allocation of disposal sites. The Project Proponent should be responsible for obtaining confirmation and approval from PFC on the allocation of the disposal site before commencement of the Project works.

6.31 For non-C&D materials, agreement has been obtained from EPD that the North East New Territories Landfill (NENT) is the designated disposal location. The confirmation from EPD was attached in Appendix 6.2.

Sediments

Sediment Sampling and Testing Plan

6.32 The classification of the dredged sediments, estimation of the disposal quantities and the determination of the corresponding disposal options for this Project were based on the findings from the site investigation works which complies with the Sediment Sampling and Testing Plan (SSTP) of the Project.

6.33 The SSTP has been prepared, making reference to ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002 and complying with the requirements stated in Clause 3.4.2.2(i) and 3.4.2.2(iii)(a) of the Study Brief, to present the sampling and testing requirements of the site investigation for EPD’s agreement. The SSTP was accepted by EPD under EIAO through a letter dated 2 Aug 2010 and should be referred to for the detailed methodology for sediment sampling and testing. The SSTP and the acceptance letter are attached in Appendix 6.3 of this Report.

6.34 The site investigation (SI) works were commenced in February 2009 and were completed in September 2009. The sampling works were conducted by Fugro Geotechnical Services Ltd. (Fugro). The laboratory testing was carried out by ALS Technichem (HK) Pty. Ltd., an HOKLAS accreditated laboratory.

6.35 In accordance to the SSTP, a total of 10 marine-based sampling locations were advanced in the dredging area under this EIA for temporary seawall and reclamation for SCL protection works and the temporary mooring area offshore to Tong Lo Wan Fire Station. Sampling locations were proposed at a grid spacing of approximately 50 x 50m. Five of the ten sampling locations were advanced using vibrocoring techniques while the remaining five using rotary drilling methods. In addition, surface sediment samples were taken from all of the sampling locations with grab sampler.

6.36 Sediment samples were generally taken at 0 – 0.9m below seabed surface, 0.9m down, 1.9m down, 2.9m down and at 3m intervals to the base of the marine deposit layer or level equivalent to be base of dredging. The as-built sampling locations are shown in Figure Nos. NEX2213/C/331/ENS/M58/501-502.

6.37 In addition, a grab sample was also collected from EPD’s routine marine sediment monitoring station PS6 in Port Shelter on 5 May 2009 as the reference sediment sample.

Chemical and Biological Screening

6.38 Chemical and biological screening of sediment samples were carried out in accordance to the SSTP. Each sample was tested for chemical screening with parameters as stated in ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002.

6.39 A total of 58 samples were collected from the sampling locations and tested. The chemical screening results are attached in Appendix 6.4 and summarised in Table 6.3. Based on the chemical screening results above, Tier III biological screening was conducted for the Category M and Category H (with >10x UCEL) sediment samples. The results of the biological screening are attached in Appendix 6.5 and summarized in Table 6.4.

6.40 Sample recovered in 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 at depth 1 to 1.95m below seabed level contained mostly pebbles and rocks. The proportion of sediment within the sample collected was not sufficient to carry out the necessary testing.

6.41 Based on the site investigation results, for the dredging area offshore to the existing Police Officers’ Club (as shown in Figure No. NEX2213/C/331/EN/M58/501), Category H sediments were identified at all sampling locations except for sampling location 2211/SCL/VC028. Contaminants including Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Hg, Ag and TBT exceeded the UCEL. Category M sediments were found at 3 sampling locations out of 6, with Pb and Zn exceeding the LCEL but equal to or below the UCEL. All category M sediments had failed the biological screening and are considered as Type 2 sediment. Sample recovered at 2211/SCL/EDH-VC026 (depth: 0-0.95m) exceeded the LCEL for Ag by 10 times but had passed the biological screening test (dilution test). The sample at 2211/SCL/EDH-VC026 (depth: 0-0.95m) was thus considered as Type 2 sediment. No PCBs were detected in any of the sediment samples.

6.42 Based on the site investigation results, for the dredging area within the temporary mooring area offshore to Tong Lo Wan Fire Station (as shown in Figure No. NEX2213/C/331/ENS/M58/502), Category H sediments were identified in all four sampling locations, with Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Hg and Ag exceeding the UCEL. 3 samples were classified as Category M sediments at sampling locations 2211/SCL/MS001, 2211/SCL/MS003 and 2211/SCL/MS004, with Cu, Pb, Zn and Total PCB exceeded the LCEL but equal to or below the UCEL. All of the 3 Category M samples had failed the biological screening and are considered as Type 2 sediments. One sample located at 2211/SCL/MS004 (depth: 0-0.9m) had exceeded the LCEL for Ag by 10 times but had passed the biological screening and thus is considered as Type 2 sediment. Due to matrix interference, all of the 4 samples located at 2211/SCL/MS002 were tested with limit of reporting exceeding 10 times the LCEL for total PCBs levels and had all failed the biological screening test (dilution test). Thus, the samples are considered as Type 3 sediments. Other samples located at 2211/SCL/MS003 and 2211/SCL/MS004 were classified as Category L sediments with no detection of Cd, Ag, total PCB, LMW PAHs and HMW PAHs.

6.43 It should be noted that insufficient interstitial water was able to be recovered from most of the sediment samples to enable TBT analysis. Thus, surface sediment sample collected with grab sampler was tested for TBT to supplement the TBT assessment of the surface sediment layer. However, TBT testing was not conducted for the grab sample from 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 since the 2 weeks maximum sample holding time for chemical testing specified in ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002 was exceeded. Therefore, there are no valid TBT testing result available for the surface sediment layer at 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018. As the TBT concentrations of sediment samples collected from the lower layer (i.e. 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 at a depth of 2 to 2.95m) and a nearby sampling location (2211/SCL/EDH-VC019) were below 10 times the LCEL, the TBT levels in the surface sediment at 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 is not likely to exceed 10 times the LCEL. Based on the chemical screening results, as exceedances in UCEL (but below 10 times the LCEL) were identified for other parameters at 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 (depth: 0 to 0.95m), the surface sediment at 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 was classified as Category H (Type 2).

6.44 The samples able to provide sufficient interstitial water for TBT testing were as follows; 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 (2-2.95m), 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 (3-3.95m), 2211/SCL/EDH-VC018 (9-9.45m), 2211/SCL/EDH-VC019 (0-0.95), 2211/SCL/EDH-VC026 (0-0.95m), 2211/SCL/VC028 (0-1m), 2211/SCL/MS001 (0-0.9m), 2211/SCL/MS002 (0-0.9m), 2211/SCL/MS003 (0-0.9m), 2211/SCL/MS004 (0-0.9m). The TBT testing results for these samples are shown in Appendix 6.4.

Table 6.3 Summary of Chemical Screening Results

Category	Percentage	No. of Samples
Marine-based Sediment
Category L (below LCEL)	37.9%	22
Category M (above LCEL but below UCEL)	10.4%	6
Category H (above UCEL)	50.0%	29
Category H (above 10x LCEL)	1.7%	1
Total :		58

Table 6.4 Summary of Biological Screening Results

Sampling ID	Sampling Depth (m)	Classification	Result of Biological Screening
2211/SCL/EDH-VC019	2-2.95	Category M	Fail
2211/SCL/EDH-VC026	0-0.95	Category H	Pass
2211/SCL/EDH-VC026	6-6.95	Category M	Fail
2211/SCL/EDH-VC027	0-0.9	Category M	Fail
2211/SCL/MS001	0-0.9	Category M	Fail
2211/SCL/MS002	0-0.9	Category H	Fail
2211/SCL/MS002	0.9-1.9	Category H	Fail
2211/SCL/MS002	1.9-2.9	Category H	Fail
2211/SCL/MS002	3.0-3.9	Category H	Fail
2211/SCL/MS003	15-15.95	Category M	Fail
2211/SCL/MS004	0-0.9	Category H	Pass
2211/SCL/MS004	3-3.9	Category M	Fail

Sediment Disposal Options and Quantities

6.45 Based on the chemical and biological screening results, the disposal options for each of the sediment samples were determined in accordance with the ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002 and summarized in Appendix 6.4.

6.46 The quantities of sediments for each disposal option have been estimated with consideration given to (i) the dredging extent and profiles for the Project construction, (ii) depths and thickness of underlying marine deposits and (iii) disposal options at each of the sampling locations and corresponding depths based on the chemical and biological screening results. The estimated quantity for each disposal type is extracted from the Sediment Quality Report prepared by Fugro Technical Services Limited and is presented in Table 6.5. The total volume of sediment generated is estimated to be approximately 38,200 m³. To ensure disposal space is allocated for the Project, a dredging rationale for sediment removal has been submitted to and agreed by MFC. The approval letter from MFC is attached as Appendix 6.6. The Project Proponent should be responsible for obtaining confirmation and approval from MFC on the allocation of the disposal site before commencement of the Project works.

Table 6.5 Disposal Quantity for Marine Sediment

Disposal Options	Corresponding Category	Disposal Quantity (m³)
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal	Category L Sediment	9,000
Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal (Dedicated Sites) at disposal site(s) allocated by MFC	Category M Sediment (passed the biological screening)	--
Type 2 – Confined Marine Disposal at disposal site(s) allocated by MFC	Category M Sediment (failed the biological screening) and Category H Sediment (does not require biological screening)	18,700
Type 3 – Special Treatment/Disposal	Category H Sediment (failed biological screening)	10,500
Total:		38,200

Dredging, Transportation and Disposal

6.47 To minimise potentially adverse impacts arising from the dredging operation, the sediment should be dredged, transported and disposed of in a manner that would minimise noise and adverse impacts to air and water quality. Mitigation measures to minimise potential environmental impacts are recommended in Section 6.74 to 6.85.

6.48 The dredging scale proposed under the Project is small. The total volume of dredged sediments generated from the dredging operation would be approximately 38,200 m³and the dredging work would be conducted by no more than two dredgers (of about 8 m³ capacity each) at a production rate of no more than 6,000 m³ per day. In view of the transient nature of the dredging work and small dredging scale, no odour nuisance would be expected during dredging and transportation of the dredged sediment with the adoption of the good site practice as mentioned in Section 6.79.

6.49 Based on the findings of the water quality, noise and air quality impact assessments (refer to Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Report) adverse water quality, noise and air quality impacts associated with sediment dredging activities are not anticipated. It is expected that adverse environmental impacts would not be anticipated if the mitigation measures proposed are properly implemented.

6.50 Based on the above and with the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures, no unacceptable impacts would be expected from the dredging, transportation and disposal of the dredged sediment.

Chemical Waste

6.51 The maintenance and servicing of construction plant, equipment and vehicles involve the use of a variety of chemicals and generate chemical wastes. The possible chemical waste that would be generated during the course of construction works includes:

Ÿ Oil and grease associated with plant maintenance;

Ÿ Hydraulic fluid from plant machinery;

Ÿ Scrap batteries from vehicle maintenance; and

Ÿ Used paint, cleaners, solvents used in maintaining mechanical equipments.

6.52 It is difficult to quantify the amount of chemical waste that would arise from the construction activities since it would depend on the Contractor’s on-site maintenance requirements and the amount of plant utilized. However, it is anticipated that the quantity of chemical waste, such as lubrication oil and solvent produced from plant maintenance, would be small and in the order of a few cubic metres per month. The amount of chemical waste to be generated would be quantified in the Waste Management Plan to be prepared by the Contractors.

6.53 As stipulated in the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulations, chemical wastes arisen during the construction phase may pose environmental, health and safety hazards if not stored and disposed of appropriately. These hazards may include:

Ÿ Toxic effects to workers;

Ÿ Adverse impacts on water quality from spills; and

Ÿ Fire hazard.

6.54 Chemical waste will be collected by licensed collectors and disposed of at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) at Tsing Yi. Wherever possible opportunities should be taken to reuse and recycle materials. Mitigation and control requirements for chemical wastes are detailed in Sections 6.86 to 6.89.

6.55 The handling, storage and disposal of chemical waste would follow the Code of Practice on Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes published by EPD and the anticipated adverse environmental impacts would be negligible.

General Refuse

6.56 During the construction period, the workforce would generate refuse comprising food scraps, waste paper, empty containers, etc. Accidental or intentional release of these refuse to the surrounding environment is not permitted and may cause negative environmental impacts. Storage of general refuse on-site will generate adverse environmental impacts like water contamination, odour nuisance and visual impact if they are not managed in a proper manner. The site may also attract vermin and pests if the waste containers are not cleaned or maintained properly and frequently.

6.57 The number of construction workers to be employed on the Project is estimated to be about 100 workers. Based on a generation rate of 0.65 kg per worker per day, approximately 65 kg of general refuse will be generated daily during the construction period.

6.58 The refuse should be stored in enclosed bin to avoid adverse impacts to the surroundings. Recycling bins should be provided to maximize reuse and recycle volume. A reputable licensed collector should be employed to collect the general refuse for later disposal of at landfills.

6.59 With proper implementation of waste management practices, it is anticipated that the secondary environmental impacts from collection and handling of general refuse would be minimal.

Mitigation Measures for Construction Phase

Waste Management Hierarchy

6.60 The waste management hierarchy has been applied in the assessment and development of mitigation measures for waste which aims at evaluating the desirability of waste management methods and includes the followings in descending preference:

Ÿ Avoidance and reduction of waste generation;

Ÿ Reuse of materials as far as practicable;

Ÿ Recovery and recycling of residual materials where possible; and

Ÿ Treatment and disposal according to relevant laws, guidelines and good practices.

6.61 Based on the waste management hierarchy, waste reduction measures are recommended as follow to reduce impacts and costs arisen from the Project. Recommendations of good site practices and waste reduction measures would be stated in order to achieve avoidance and minimization of waste generation in the hierarchy. Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and trip-ticket system are recommended for monitoring management of waste. Specific measures targeting the mitigation of impacts in works areas and the transportation of spoil off-site would be provided to minimize the potential impacts to the surrounding environment together with recommendations on sediments management.

Good Site Practices and Waste Reduction Measures

6.62 Adverse impacts related to waste management are not expected to arise, provided that good site practices are strictly followed. Recommendations for good site practices during the construction phase include:

Ÿ Prepare a Waste Management Plan approved by the Engineer/Supervising Officer of the Project based on current practices on construction sites;

Ÿ Training of site personnel in, site cleanliness, proper waste management and chemical handling procedures;

Ÿ Provision of sufficient waste disposal points and regular collection of waste;

Ÿ Appropriate measures to minimize windblown litter and dust during transportation of waste by either covering trucks or by transporting wastes in enclosed containers;

Ÿ Regular cleaning and maintenance programme for drainage systems, sumps and oil interceptors; and

Ÿ Separation of chemical wastes for special handling and appropriate treatment.

6.63 Good management and control can prevent the generation of a significant amount of waste. Waste reduction is best achieved at the planning and design stage, as well as by ensuring the implementation of good site practices. Recommendations to achieve waste reduction include:

Ÿ Sorting of demolition debris and excavated materials from demolition works to recover reusable/ recyclable portions (i.e. soil, broken concrete, metal etc.);

Ÿ Segregation and storage of different types of waste in different containers, skips or stockpiles to enhance reuse or recycling of materials and their proper disposal;

Ÿ Encourage collection of aluminium cans by providing separate labelled bins to enable this waste to be segregated from other general refuse generated by the workforce;

Ÿ Proper storage and site practices to minimize the potential for damage or contamination of construction materials;

Ÿ Plan and stock construction materials carefully to minimize amount of waste generated and avoid unnecessary generation of waste; and

Ÿ Training should be provided to workers about the concepts of site cleanliness and appropriate waste management procedures, including waste reduction, reuse and recycle.

6.64 The Contractor shall prepare and implement a Waste Management Plan (WMP) as part of the EMP in accordance with ETWB TCW No. 19/2005 which describes the arrangements for avoidance, reuse, recovery, recycling, storage, collection, treatment and disposal of different categories of waste to be generated from the construction activities. Such a management plan should incorporate site specific factors, such as the designation of areas for segregation and temporary storage of reusable and recyclable materials. The EMP should be submitted to the Engineer for approval. The Contractor should implement the waste management practices in the EMP throughout the construction stage of the Project. The EMP should be reviewed regularly and updated by the Contractor.

6.65 In addition to the above good site practices and waste reduction measures, C&D materials would be reused in other local concurrent projects or outlets as described in Section 6.29 as far as possible.

Storage, Collection and Transportation of Waste

6.66 Storage of materials on site may induce adverse environmental impacts if not properly managed. Storage or stockpiling of C&D waste is not anticipated as the C&D materials generated would be removed from site immediately; however, should any temporary storage or stockpiling of waste is required, recommendations to minimize the impacts include:

Ÿ Waste, such as soil, should be handled and stored well to ensure secure containment, thus minimizing the potential of pollution;

Ÿ Maintain and clean storage areas routinely;

Ÿ Stockpiling area should be provided with covers and water spraying system to prevent materials from wind-blown or being washed away; and

Ÿ Different locations should be designated to stockpile each material to enhance reuse.

6.67 Waste haulier with appropriate permits should be employed by the Contractor for the collection and transportation of waste from works areas to respective disposal outlets. The following suggestions should be enforced to minimise the potential adverse impacts:

Ÿ Remove waste in timely manner;

Ÿ Waste collectors should only collect wastes prescribed by their permits;

Ÿ Impacts during transportation, such as dust and odour, should be mitigated by the use of covered trucks or in enclosed containers;

Ÿ Obtain relevant waste disposal permits from the appropriate authorities, in accordance with the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354), Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Construction Waste) Regulation (Cap. 345) and the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28);

Ÿ Waste should be disposed of at licensed waste disposal facilities; and

Ÿ Maintain records of quantities of waste generated, recycled and disposed.

6.68 Implementation of trip ticket system with reference to ETWB TC(W) No.31/2004, Trip Ticket System for Disposal of Construction & Demolition Materials, to monitor disposal of waste and to control fly-tipping at PFRFs or landfills. A recording system for the amount of waste generated, recycled and disposed (including disposal sites) should be proposed.

6.69 In addition to the above measures, other specific mitigation measures on handling the C&D materials, sediments and materials generated from site formation and demolition work are recommended as follow.

Sorting of C&D Materials

6.70 Concerning the necessity of maximising reuse for the Project, it is paramount for sorting to be performed to recover the inert materials, reusable and recyclable materials before disposal off-site. All surplus C&D materials arising from or in connection with the works shall become the property of the Contractor when it is removed unless otherwise stated. The Contractor should be responsible for devising a system to work for sorting of C&D materials and promptly removing all sorted and process materials arising from the construction activities. The system should be included in the EMP, identifying the source of generation, estimated quantity, arrangement for sorting, collection, temporary storage areas (if any) and frequency of collection by recycling Contractors or frequency of removal off-site.

6.71 It is recommended that specific areas should be provided by the Contractors for sorting and to provide temporary storage areas (if required) for the sorted materials. The materials could be segregated according to the categories as shown below:

Ÿ Excavated materials suitable for reuse at other concurrent projects or rock crushing facilities;

Ÿ Excavated materials for delivery to PFRFs;

Ÿ Sediments for delivery to sea disposal; and

Ÿ Non-inert C&D materials for delivery to landfills.

6.72 The C&D materials should at least be segregated into inert and non-inert materials, in which the inert portion could be reused and recycled as far as practicable before delivery to PFRFs as mentioned for beneficial use in other projects. Liaisons with other projects for reuse of C&D materials have been commenced and the details are attached in Appendix 6.7. While opportunities for reusing the non-inert portion should be investigated before disposal of at designated landfills.

6.73 Possibility of reusing the spoil in the Project will be continuously investigated in the construction stage.

Sediments

6.74 The estimated total volume of sediments generated is approximately 38,200 m³. In terms of disposal options, the estimated volume of sediments suitable for Type 1 open sea disposal is approximately 9,000m³. The estimated volume of sediments requiring Type 2 confined marine disposal is approximately 18,700m³. The volume of sediments requiring Type 3 special treatment/disposal is estimated to be approximately 10,500m³.

6.75 The basic requirements and procedures for dredged sediment disposal specified under ETWB TC(W) No. 34/2002 shall be followed. MFC manages disposal facilities in Hong Kong for the dredged sediment, while EPD is the authority issuing marine dumping permits under the Dumping at Sea Ordinance.

6.76 The Project Proponent should agree in advance with MFC of CEDD on the site allocation. The contractor for the dredging works shall apply for the site allocations of marine sediment disposal based on the prior agreement with MFC/CEDD. A request for reservation of sediment disposal space has been submitted to MFC for onward discussions of disposal approaches and feasible disposal sites; this letter is attached in Appendix 6.6. The Project Proponent is also responsible for application of all necessary permits from the relevant authorities, including the dumping permit as required under DASO from EPD, for the disposal of dredged sediment prior to the commencement of the dredging works.

6.77 Requirements of the Air Pollution Ordinance (Construction Dust) Regulation, where relevant, shall be adhered to during dredging, transportation and disposal of sediments.

6.78 Stockpiling of contaminated sediments should be avoided as far as possible. If temporary stockpiling of contaminated sediments is necessary, the dredged sediment should be covered by tarpaulin and the area should be placed within earth bunds or sand bags to prevent leachate from entering the ground, nearby drains and/or surrounding water bodies. The stockpiling areas should be completely paved or covered by linings in order to avoid contamination to underlying soil or groundwater. Separate and clearly defined areas should be provided for stockpiling of contaminated and uncontaminated materials. Leachate, if any, should be collected and discharged according to the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO).

6.79 In order to minimise the potential odour / dust emissions during dredging and transportation of the sediment, the dredged sediments should be properly covered when placed on barges. Loading of the dredged sediment to the barge should be controlled to avoid splashing and overflowing of the sediment slurry to the surrounding water.

6.80 The barge transporting the sediments to the designated disposal sites should be equipped with tight fitting seals to prevent leakage and should not be filled to a level that would cause overflow of materials or laden water during loading or transportation. In addition, monitoring of the barge loading shall be conducted to ensure that loss of material does not take place during transportation. Transport barges or vessels shall be equipped with automatic self-monitoring devices as specified by the DEP.

6.81 In order to minimise the exposure to contaminated materials, workers should wear appropriate personal protective equipments (PPE) when handling contaminated sediments. Adequate washing and cleaning facilities should also be provided on site.

6.82 The dredging work and associate sediment handling under this Project will be undertaken together with the CWB project by Highways Department. According to the EIA Study for Wan Chai Development Phase II and Central-Wan Chai Bypass, geosynthetic containment has been proposed to handle Type 3 sediments.

6.83 Geosynthetic containment is a disposal method whereby sediments are sealed in geosynthetic containers and disposed of to a designated contaminated sediment pit which is eventually capped, thereby meeting the requirements for fully confined sediment disposal. The technology for manufacture of geosynthetic containers to project-specific requirements is readily available. Similar disposal methods have been used for projects in Europe, the USA and Japan and the issues of fill retention by the geosynthetic fabrics, possible rupture of the containers and sediment loss due to impact of the container on the seabed have been addressed[1].

6.84 Field trials have been undertaken under WDII – Design and Construction to demonstrate the feasibility of geosynthetic containment. A report on the field trials [2] concluded that disposal by sealing the sediments in geosynthetic containers and dropping these containers into the contaminated mud pits at East Sha Chau has been shown to be a successful and viable disposal method. The use of a geosynthetic container system for special disposal was considered to be an effective system with negligible loss of contaminants to the marine environment during disposal.

6.85 The use of geosynthetic containment to dispose the Type 3 sediment under this EIA Study is considered appropriate given the following:

Ÿ Findings of the field trials report is considered applicable under this EIA Study as the concerned sediments are located close to the identified Type 3 sediments under the CWB Project. The sediment quality are expected to be similar; and

Ÿ As the concerned sediments would be dredged under the CWB Project, it is considered more effective to handle the Type 3 sediment using one type of disposal method.

Chemical Wastes

6.86 If chemical wastes are produced at the construction site, the Contractor would be required to register with the EPD as a chemical waste producer and to follow the guidelines stated in the Code of Practice on the Packaging, Labelling and Storage of Chemical Wastes. Containers used for storage of chemical waste should :

Ÿ Be compatible with the chemical wastes being stored, maintained in good condition and securely sealed;

Ÿ Have a capacity of less than 450 litres unless the specifications have been approved by EPD; and

Ÿ Display a label in English and Chinese in accordance with instructions prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste)(General) Regulation.

6.87 The Chemical storage area should:

Ÿ Be clearly labelled to indicate corresponding chemical characteristics of the chemical waste and used for storage of chemical waste only;

Ÿ Be enclosed on at least 3 sides;

Ÿ Have an impermeable floor and bunding, of capacity to accommodate 110% of the volume of the largest container or 20% by volume of the chemical waste stored in that area, whichever is the greatest;

Ÿ Have adequate ventilation;

Ÿ Be covered to prevent rainfall from entering; and

Ÿ Be properly arranged so that incompatible materials are adequately separated.

6.88 Lubricants, waste oils and other chemical wastes would be generated during the maintenance of vehicles and mechanical equipments. Used lubricants should be collected and stored in individual containers which are fully labelled in English and Chinese and stored in a designated secure place. These chemical wastes should be sent to oil recycling companies, if possible, and the empty oil drums should be collected by appropriate companies for reuse or refill. They should not be allowed to discharge into water courses, either by direct discharge, or as contaminants carried in surface water runoff from the construction site.

6.89 A trip-ticket system should be operated in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation to monitor all movements of chemical waste. The Contractor should employ a licensed collector to transport and dispose of the chemical wastes, to either the approved CWTC at Tsing Yi, or another licensed facility, in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

General Refuse

6.90 General refuse should be stored in enclosed bins or compaction units separate from C&D materials and chemical waste. A reputable waste collector should be employed by the contractor to remove general refuse from the site, separately from C&D materials and chemical wastes. Preferably, an enclosed and covered area should be provided to reduce the occurrence of wind blown light material.

6.91 The recyclable component of general refuse, such as aluminium cans, paper and cleansed plastic containers should be separated from other waste. Provision and collection of recycling bins for different types of recyclable waste should be set up by the Contractor. The Contractor should also be responsible for arranging recycling companies to collect these materials.

6.92 The Contractor should carry out an education programme for workers in avoiding, reducing, reusing and recycling of materials generation. Posters and leaflets advising on the use of the bins should also be provided in the sites as reminders.

6.93 Table 6.6 provides a summary of the various waste types likely to be generated during the construction activities of the Project, together with the recommended handling and disposal methods.

Waste Materials Type	Generation from work items	Materials Generated	Disposal Quantity	Handling methods/Reuse	Destinations
C&D Materials	Excavation, Demolition Works, Construction of railway tunnel structure and relocation of the temporary RHKYC jetty within the CWB temporary reclamation to a new location	Inert C&D materials –Rock, Soft Materials and AHM	14,400m³	Ÿ Segregation from non-inert C&D materials during stockpiling and transportation Ÿ Stockpile area (if required) should be well managed with covers and water spraying system Ÿ Delivered to other concurrent projects or to PFRFs for beneficial use in other projects	Ÿ Other concurrent projects (eg. HZMB, TMCLKL) Ÿ PFRFs
Non-inert C&D materials – Timber, Papers & Plastics	300 m³	Ÿ Segregation from inert C&D materials during stockpiling and transportation Ÿ Reusable materials should be separated and recycled as far as practicable	Ÿ Landfills
Sediment	Dredging of sediment in the area for temporary seawall and reclamation for SCL protection works and temporary mooring area offshore to Tong Lo Wan Fire Station.	Category L Sediment	9,000 m³	Ÿ Type 1 – Open Sea Disposal – gazetted marine disposal ground allocated by MFC Ÿ Mitigation measures as per Sections 6.74 to 6.85.	Final disposal site shall be determined by MFC; typically South Cheung Chau / East of Ninepin.
Category M Sediment (failed the biological screening) and Category H Sediment (does not require the biological screening)	18,700 m³	Ÿ Type 2 – Confined Marine Disposal at disposal site(s) allocated by MFC Ÿ Mitigation measures as per Sections 6.74 to 6.85.	Final disposal site shall be determined by MFC; typically East Sha Chau
Category H Sediment (failed the biological screening)	10,500 m³	Ÿ Type 3 – Special Treatment / Disposal – Disposal at existing marine disposal facilities allocated by MFC with geosynthetic containment. Ÿ Mitigation measures as per Sections 6.74 to 6.85.	Final disposal site shall be determined by MFC
Chemical Waste	Maintenance and Operation of Equipments and Machineries	Oils and grease hydraulic fluids, paints, solvents, cleaners etc.	Few cubic metres per month	Ÿ Store in compatible containers in designated area on site Ÿ To be collected and recycled by licensed collectors	Chemical Waste Treatment Centre at Tsing Yi
General Refuse	Resident Workers	Food waste, plastic, aluminium cans, waste papers etc.	65 kg/day	Ÿ Provide on-site collection points together with recycling bins Ÿ Collected by licensed collectors	Landfills

[1] (i) Young, H. M. et al. “The migration of contaminants through geosynthetic fabric containers utilized in dredging operation”. Engineering Geology, 53 (1999), 167-176;

(ii) Fleischer, P., Bowles, F.A. “Turbidity currents generated by seafloor impact of geotextile fabric containers”. Applied Ocean Research, 21 (1999), 215-217; and

(iii) Valent, P. J. et al. “Engineering concepts for the placement of wastes on the abyssal seafloor” Journal of Marine Systems, 14 (1998), 273-288.

[2] Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd, Field Trials of Geosynthetic Containers ACE Report (Wan Chai Development Phase II Design & Construction – Agreement No. CE 54/2001 (CE)), October, 2003.