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Press
Releases - 2000
Service
at refuse transfer station partially disrupted by Greenpeace's
protest
The normal
waste handling operation at the Island West Transfer Station
(IWTS) of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has
been partially disrupted by Greenpeace's protest today (March
23).
At about
1 pm today, protesters from Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior stormed
the IWTS in Kennedy Town. About 30 of their volunteers climbed
on board a waste container vessel and staged a sit-in.
A spokesman
for the EPD said: "Had they been protesting against the nearby
old incinerator in Kennedy Town 10 years ago, we would have
understood.
"This
incinerator was closed down six years ago as part of our drive
for a modern, environmentally acceptable waste management
system."
The spokesman
said: "The public can rest assured that the 500 tonnes of
municipal waste which are normally delivered to the transfer
station each day are still being handled in an environmentally
sound manner."
The spokesman
noted that at present Hong Kong did not incinerate any refuse
at all, contrary to an agency report which said today that
the protest was aimed at "Hong Kong's use of incinerators
to dispose of much of the territory's refuse".
"We do
incinerate a certain amount of chemical waste which cannot
be safely treated by other processes, and plan to modify the
plant to deal with about seven tonnes a day of clinical waste
that cannot be safely treated by other means.
"Such
treatment systems are essential to reduce human and environmental
risks from chemicals and pathogens.
"The
incinerator at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing
Yi Island operates under the toughest regulatory standards
available in the world with respect to dioxin and other emissions."
On exploring
the use of waste-to-energy incineration, the spokesman said
studies are being conducted and the public will be consulted.
No views have been formed on the issue and it is too early
to talk about site selection.
He reiterated
that it was the government policy to manage waste through
a programme of prevention, reduction, separation and recycling,
followed by safe treatment and disposal.
"We are
actively promoting waste reduction, separation and recovery
of recyclables from the waste stream, including wastes from
households, commercial and industrial sectors and the construction
industry.
"However,
even if we can recover all the recyclable waste in our waste
stream, we will still end up with a significant quantity of
non-recyclable waste that needs to be disposed of in a safe
and environmentally sound manner.
"Landfilling
and waste-to-energy incineration using the latest technologies
and the highest standards will ensure that the waste that
cannot be avoided and recycled will be handled properly to
safeguard health of the community," he said.
It is
impractical to think we can reuse and recycle all the waste
we produce. Even Greenpeace does not recycle all its waste.
About
10 tonnes of oil waste from the Rainbow Warrior has been taken
to the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre for treatment for use
as incinerator fuel and three cubic metres of general rubbish
was collected by marine services for disposal in Hong Kong's
landfills.
Whilst
the EPD shares Greenpeace's concern on issues such as the
need to control persistent organic pollutants, promote clean
industry, enhance waste recovery and recycling, the EPD is
very concerned that Greenpeace's action has often done the
opposite in misleading the public in understanding some key
environmental issues.
For instance,
it chooses to misquote the scientific findings of other researchers
by 1 000 times in the report they released recently.
The concentration
of DDT in Hong Kong coastal sediments should be 0.27 to 14.8
ng/g dry weight (dry wt), and not 300 to 14 800 ng/g dry wt
as reported by Greenpeace to the media and the public.
As for
HCHs, the figures should be 0.1 to 16.7 ng/g dry wt rather
than 100 to 16 700 ng/g dry wt.
The spokesman
said: "It seems odd that Greenpeace's purpose today is simply
to get a meeting with senior officials from the Environment
and Food Bureau.
"Senior
officers from the EPD have been standing by all afternoon
to discuss the issues with them but Greenpeace has refused
to talk to these senior government representatives.
"The
Secretary for the Environment and Food has met with green
groups, including Greenpeace, before assuming office and in
recent months."
Officers
of the Administration will be pleased to exchange views with
green groups on environmental issues through the normal channels,
the spokesman added.
End/Thursday,
March 23, 2000
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