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Press Release
Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme to take effect tomorrow
The Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme will come into operation tomorrow (December 1) under which construction waste producers are required to open a billing account with the Environmental Protection Department in advance for disposing of construction waste.
An EPD spokesman said the charges for disposing of one tonne of construction waste at public fill reception facilities, sorting facilities and landfills would be $27, $100 and $125 respectively. The levy of disposal charges will start from January 20, 2006.
"The Scheme provides financial incentives to construction waste producers to reduce waste through sorting, reuse and recycling so that they can minimise their disposal cost on the one hand and on the other hand, help preserve our valuable landfill space," he said.
In addition to the charges, he added that construction waste producers should also ensure that the waste was properly managed.
Starting from tomorrow, EPD will process all types of account application under the Scheme. Main contractors who undertake projects with value of $1 million or above under a contract are required to open a billing account solely for the construction waste generated from this project.
Application shall be made within 21 days after the contract is awarded and failing to do so will constitute an offence under the law.
As to projects under a contract with value of less than $1 million such as minor construction or renovation works, owners of the concerned premises or the contractors they engage can open billing accounts directly with the EPD for disposing of their construction waste.
These billing accounts could also be used to pay charges for other contracts each with value of less than $1 million, the spokesman said.
"As to the contracts that are awarded or tenders of which closes before December 1, the parties can apply for charge exemption. Application should reach EPD on or before December 22 this year," he added.
Such exemption accounts only applied to the construction waste generated from the project as specified by the contract, he added.
End/Wednesday, November 30, 2005
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