|
Press
Releases - 1998
Refuse
transfer service extended to private sector
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) is to extend the waste transfer
service at refuse transfer stations (RTSs) to private waste
collectors, an initiative to cut down the environmental nuisance
caused by their vehicles.
Initially,
two RTSs will be opened to private collectors at a service
charge for the disposal of household, commercial and non-hazardous
industrial waste on a voluntary basis.
The two
RTSs, to be opened to private sector from April 21, are West
Kowloon Transfer Station on the West Kowloon Reclamation and
the Island East Transfer Station on Hong Kong Island.
At present,
refuse transfer stations only accept waste collected and delivered
by the two municipal councils. Private waste collectors have
to deliver waste directly to landfills for disposal.
Principal
Environmental Protection Officer, Mr Alex Ng, said today (Wednesday)
that the new service was expected to be welcomed not only
by the private waste collectors, but also by the general public.
"The
new service will provide a voluntary alternative disposal
means to private waste collectors and help save their transportation
cost and turnaround time.
"It will
also be welcomed by the general public as it will reduce traffic,
vehicle emissions and other nuisance caused by long haulage
of waste by waste collection vehicles," he said.
Mr Ng
said refuse transfer stations were designed and operated to
very high environmental standards.
"It is
therefore beneficial to the environment by promoting the use
of these stations among the private waste collectors to transport
the waste in bulk to landfills," he said.
Private
waste collectors who choose to use the RTS service should
register with EPD as a registered account-holder under the
"Account Billing System".
To allow
ample time for application processing, potential users are
advised to apply at their earliest convenience if they wish
to use the transfer service on April 21.
Starting
from today, application forms are available at the following
EPD's offices:
| 1. |
Headquarters
of EPD, 28th floor, Southorn Centre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong;
|
| 2. |
EPD's
office at Island West Transfer Station East Wing, second
floor, 88 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong; and
|
| 3. |
EPD's
offices at the three strategic landfills:
South East New Territories Landfill
West New Territories Landfill
North East New Territories Landfill
|
End/Wednesday,
February 25, 1998
|
