Council briefed on independent report on incineration of dioxin-containing residues

Members of the Kwai Tsing District Council were briefed today (March 15) by an Independent Expert Assessor (IEA) on his report on monitoring the incineration of dioxin-containing residues at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) in Tsing Yi from February 24 to 28, 2005.

"According to the report submitted by the IEA, Prof Jonathan W C Wong, analysis of samples taken on February 25 and 27 revealed that the concentration of dioxin in stack emission was 0.00065 ng/cubic metre on average, well below the prevailing international standard for incinerator dioxin emissions of 0.1 ng/cubic metre," a spokesman for the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) said.

Meanwhile, the IEA's monitoring result on the concentration of dioxin in kiln bottom ash was 1.49 ng/kg on average, far below the most commonly acceptable soil contamination criteria of 1000 ng/kg.

The monitoring results on average ambient dioxin concentration at five locations in Kwai Tsing areas ranged from 0.022 to 0.035pg/m3. All were below the alert indicator of 0.1pg/m3.

"Given the very low concentrations of dioxin in the stack emission and kiln bottom ash, as well as the low ambient dioxin level recorded during the incineration period, the IEA concluded that incineration at CWTC was both a safe and effective way to dispose of dioxin-containing residues, imposing no additional loading to the environment," the spokesman said.

"We agree with the IEA's recommendation that with the implementation of the stringent monitoring measures being adopted in previous incinerations, it would be safe for the CWTC to proceed with the next incineration," the spokesman said.

The last batch of about 25 tonnes of dioxin-containing residues will be delivered from To Kau Wan to CWTC in the early morning of March 22 for incineration in about one week's time. Members of the Kwai Tsing District Council were informed of the revised schedule in early March and were briefed again today by government representatives.

"The position of the Government has all along been that the dioxin-containing residues should be disposed in a safe and reliable manner as soon as practicable. We are committed to accomplishing the incineration of all the remaining residues at the earliest possible time," the spokesman said.

"After having concluded the experience of previous transportation and incineration operations, reviewed the works progress and assessed the remaining quantity of the residues, we have decided to revise the schedule of transportation and incineration work," he added.

The shortening of the incineration schedule will also reduce inconvenience caused by the temporary traffic arrangement and the Police force required during the transportation operation.

"We will continue to maintain high transparency in the transportation and incineration operation and will inform the Kwai Tsing District Council of the incineration results," the spokesman stressed.

Since the trial incineration of about 10 tonnes dioxin-containing residues on November 26, 2004 has complied with all stipulated requirements, approval was granted by the Director of Environmental Protection for incineration of the remaining residues. Subsequent to the successful completion of incineration work of about 22 tonnes residues in early January, another batch of 23 tonnes residues were transported from To Kau Wan in Lantau to CWTC on February 22 for incineration from February 24 to 28, 2005. 

The IEA's brief report can be viewed at CEDD's website at http://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/topics/idcr/index.htm.


Ends/Tuesday, March 15, 2005
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