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Press
Releases - 1997 (July - December)
Potentially
Hazardous Waste Found in Containers
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) today (Tuesday) found a quantity
of potentially hazardous material when they inspected the
contents of three containers of mixed metal scrap which arrived
in Hong Kong on board a vessel (Zim Sydney) from Australia
yesterday (Monday).
As no
prior import permit has been obtained from EPD, necessary
enforcement action will be taken under the Waste Disposal
Ordinance against the waste importer and any other parties
found to have contravened the legal requirements for transhipment
of waste, an EPD spokesman
said.
"Arrangements
will also be made with the Australian Authorities for the
return of the waste to the country of origin. None of the
waste will be allowed to be treated or disposed of in Hong
Kong.
"The three
containers will be stored in a secure compound until arrangements
are finalised for the waste to be returned to the country
of origin. Whilst the waste is being stored in Hong Kong,
it does not pose any environmental or health risk," he said.
The inspection
was carried out at Kwai Chung Container Terminal with the
assistance of the Customs and Excise Department, and in the
presence of the representatives of the shipping agent and
the waste importer.
Initial
findings of the inspection revealed that the waste scrap consisted
mostly of main frame computer printed circuit boards and hard
discs but also a number of computer monitors.
The spokesman
said computer scrap, such as printed circuit boards, hard
discs, cables and steel racks are not classified as hazardous
waste according to the internationally recognised classification
of waste by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) unless it contains potentially hazardous
materials such as batteries or cathode ray tubes which are
found inside computer monitors.
"Hong
Kong's waste import and export legislation, which meets fully
the requirements of the Basel Convention, came into operation
on September 1, 1996 and our classification of wastes follows
the OECD assignment system which is in line with the Basel
requirements," he said.
Under
the Waste Disposal Ordinance, the illegal importation of hazardous
waste carries a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment
for the first offence and $500,000 and two years' imprisonment
for the second or subsequent offence.
End/Tuesday,
September 23, 1997
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