The Government has assured that the standards imposed on any new incinerators would be tougher than those used in Japan and the USA, matching the highest standards adopted in Germany and Sweden under a soon-to-be-completed study into the economic and environmental acceptability of waste-to-energy incineration.
The assurance was given by Deputy Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands (Environment), Mr. K. A. Salkeld today (Friday) after meeting a group of representatives from Greenpeace who had raised concerns about proposals to set up waste-to-energy incinerators in Hong Kong.
Mr Salkeld said that any incinerators that were introduced would have to comply with the most stringent standards to reduce harmful emissions.
Referring to the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Tsing Yi Island, he said that since its commissioning, the Environmental Protection Department has been reporting the Centre's results including dioxin emission to the Kwai Tsing Provisional District Board on a half-yearly basis.
The last report was issued in March 1999 covering the six-months' results ending December 1998.
He noted that the Government had been rigorous in closing down old incinerators that could not comply with requirements for control of dioxin emissions. "Levels of dioxin in the air in Hong Kong are low, and we are taking every step to ensure that they stay low," he said.
Even with the steps taken under the Government's Waste Reduction Framework Plan introduced last year to avoid waste and to increase separation and recycling, large volumes of burnable waste would still be produced each day.
"At present, three million tonnes of burnable waste a year were being put into the landfills," he said.
"Burning this waste would reduce the volume to be landfilled by up to 85 per cent. Some of the resulting ash might also be reused thereafter while some useful electricity could be produced as a by-product," he added.
On concerns about proposals to set up waste-to-energy incinerators, Mr. Salkeld made clear that no incinerators would be built in Hong Kong's country parks.
While potential sites are being identified under the study, he said that no sites inside existing or potential country park areas would be considered.
"Waste-to-energy incineration has a role to play in the Waste Reduction Framework Plan, under which a series of measures are being taken to reduce waste and ensure environmentally responsible handling of the residue," Mr Salkeld explained.
"The first priority is given to waste avoidance, followed by separation, reuse and recycling. After that, reducing the volume of waste requiring final disposal - the point at which waste to energy incineration can play a part - and ensuring that disposal is carried out in landfills which are designed and managed to contain and treat gases and leachate to complete the strategy."
"Old landfills are being restored for community use. The gas from these sites and from the new landfills is being collected for reuse as fuel.
"These are all useful steps towards a better, more sustainable environment for Hong Kong," he added.
End/Friday, July 16, 1999
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