Press
Release
Waste
Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2005
The Government will reintroduce the Waste Disposal (Amendment)
Bill 2005 into the Legislative Council to impose legislative control
on the management of clinical waste and the disposal of imported
waste, and to set out in the Waste Disposal Ordinance the international
ban prohibiting the export of hazardous waste from developed countries
(known as the Basel Ban), a spokesman for the Environmental Protection
Department (EPD) said today (May 4).
Subject to the passing of the Bill, its enactment will introduce
the clinical waste control scheme to protect the community from
the potential health risk posed by clinical waste, the spokesman
said.
The Bill will define clinical waste and introduce licensing schemes,
to be administrated by the EPD, for the collection and disposal
of clinical waste.
"Upon the passing of the Bill, we will introduce a Regulation
to set out the detailed requirements for the disposal of clinical
waste," he said.
"We will also issue Codes of Practice for waste producers and
collectors to provide guidance on the proper management of clinical
waste," he added.
The Bill will also impose control on the disposal of imported waste
and provide legal backing to the "Basel Ban".
"To tighten the control and conserve our valuable landfill
space, the Bill proposes that the disposal of non-hazardous waste
imported for recycling shall require prior authorisation,"
the spokesman said.
The Director of Environmental Protection will only grant such authorisation
if an applicant can prove that he has exhausted all possible recycling
outlets and all means to return his waste to the place of origin.
"The applicant will be required to pay the full disposal cost."
The Basal Ban has been administratively implemented since 1998.
Importation of hazardous waste from a list of developed countries
is strictly prohibited. The relevant arrangement has been made known
to both local and overseas traders.
"The Bill will set out the Basal Ban in clear terms in the
Waste Disposal Ordinance. This would send a strong signal to the
international community regarding Hong Kong's commitment to enforcing
the Basal Ban," the spokesman noted.
The Bill, to be published in the Gazette on May 6, will be reintroduced
into the Legislative Council on May 18.
The Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2003 was introduced but not
enacted in the second term of office of the Legislative Council.
It lapsed at the end of term on September 30, 2004.
End/Wednesday, May 4, 2005
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