"Our landfills are … Separately, the, As regards producer responsibility schemes (PRSs), the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags (PSBs) commenced on 7 July 2009 as the first mandatory PRS under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap.603). Everyday, thousands of tonnes of garbage from business, industry and residences need to be disposed of. The construction industry is also a major target and the aim is to reduce construction and demolition waste going to landfills by 25% between 1999 and 2004. Riding on the effective reduction of PSBs distributed by sectors regulated under the scheme, we consulted the public on a proposal to further extending the scheme and received broad community support. Liners, leachate collection and treatment systems, landfill gas management systems, and surface and ground water management systems are in place to control air and water impacts. It aims to reduce the indiscriminate use of PSBs through the implication of a direct economic disincentive. Special wastes include animal carcasses, livestock waste, radioactive waste, grease trap waste,  sewage sludge and waterworks sludges. This landfill i… Experts fear the worst. It comprises waste produced during food production, processing, wholesale, retail and preparation, as well as after meal leftovers and expired foods. For details, please visit Green Procurement. Strategic landfills: support climate impact mitigation in Hong Kong SUEZ operates two of the world's largest strategic landfills beyond and above the technical and environmental requirements. Landfills are our solution for the waste of many cities. SUEZ is an expert in landfill restoration. To use landfills for disposal of plastic bags takes up a lot of landfill space, causing sites to fill up rapidly. THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF RECYCLING INDUSTRYEcoPark. In response to the SDC's recommendations, the Government published a first sustainable development strategy in May 2005. Landfill space should also be conserved by state-of-the-art technologies that reduce the bulk volume of waste requiring disposal. The Sai Tso Wan Landfill in Hong Kong was used until 1981 before it was covered in soil. The Policy Framework proposes simple, yet effective, economic tools that would create incentives for the community to recycle more and discard less. Hiriya Park, Tel-Aviv, Israel. With the approval by LegCo of the relevant legislative amendments, full implementation of the scheme to cover all retail outlets territory-wide took effect since 1 April 2015. For more details, please click here or dial the Recycling Helpline (2838 3111). Municipal wasteloads have in general been increasing since 1986 - when the EPD was formed - mirroring Hong Kong's rapid economic expansion over the same period. The Blueprint set out the target to reduce the per capita disposal rate of MSW by 40% by 2022. To promote local recycling, the Government has developed a 20-hectare EcoPark in Tuen Mun Area 38 to provide long-term land at affordable costs for the development of the recycling industry with a view to encouraging investment in advanced technologies and valued-added recycling processes. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) comprises solid waste from households, commercial and industrial sources. Proceeds from the … In May 2013, the Environment Bureau published the “Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013–2022” (The Blueprint) which maps out a comprehensive strategy, targets, policies and action plans for waste management for the coming 10 years with a view to tackling the waste crisis in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, domestic waste has always been the largest portion of municipal solid waste. Outlook We recognise that the growing waste management problem requires continued effort both by the Government and the community at large. To further promote waste reduction and recycling and provide outlets for recyclables of low commercial value in the community, in 2011 the Government launched the Community Recycling Network. The medium-term goal is to gradually reduce the per capita MSW disposal rate by 40-45% and raise the recovery rate to about 55% by implementing Municipal Solid Waste Charging, while the long-term goal is to move away from the reliance on landfills for direct waste disposal by developing adequate waste-to-energy facilities. On a daily basis, since 2007 Hong Kong has generated over 13,000 tons of municipal solid waste from its businesses, households, and industries combined, according to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) there. For detailed information on waste generation and disposal, please refer to, Landfill space should also be conserved by state-of-the-art technologies that reduce the bulk volume of waste requiring disposal. From the government’s words, these landfills will be fully saturated before late 2010s. The recovery rate of municipal solid waste in Hong Kong is 48% (EPD, 2012a) and we have to raise the rate to extend the operation life of the landfills. Textile waste is on the rise as part of materials dumped in Hong Kong’s landfills. An inter-departmental working group has been set up to steer and coordinate the preparatory work, aiming at getting ready the legislative proposals within the 2016/17 legislative session. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's three remaining landfill sites are piled high with trash and are set to reach capacity by 2020. The government has introduced waste management schemes and is working to educate the public on the subject. The $1 billion Recycling Fund has been launched in October 2015 and is open for applications. Try our corporate solution for free! For detailed information on waste generation and disposal, please refer to Data & Statistics. These landfills have taken the benefit of advancement in landfill technology to respond to the more demanding environmental requirements and to provide the much needed capacity for waste disposal in Hong Kong. Everyday, thousands of tonnes of garbage from business, industry and residences need to be disposed of. Three strategic landfills namely West New Territories (WENT) Landfill, South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill*and North East New Territories (NENT) Landfill, are the key disposal sites for Hong Kong. However, the disposal quantity fluctuates depending on the economic situation and the number of construction projects underway. Using plastic bottles wired with GPS trackers, the journalists located that out of 14 housing estates, both public and private, the plastic contents in recycling bins of 9 buildings were not being recycled. Under the vision, the Government will work with the industry and the community to move towards two main goals. Separately, the Council for Sustainable Development (SDC) conducted an engagement process on three pilot areas, one of which is solid waste management, and published its report with recommendations on the engagement process in February 2005. These waste facilities were built under the Waste Disposal Plan and cost more than $10 billion in total to build. The liner for this landfill will consist of a 2 mm HDPE plastic sheeting layer and a bentonite layer. Waste is a common problem of affluent societies. Factories, trades, farmers and others also can refer to Guidelines & References for information on the legal requirements for disposing of waste. Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong 2012: PDF. Did you know that every hour in Hong Kong, over 12,000 garmentsfind their way into a landfill? Municipal solid waste includes waste from households, industry and commercial operations, but landfills are also under tremendous pressure from construction waste.In 2006, the Government introduced the Construction W. aste Disposal Charging Scheme and the quantity of construction waste disposed of at landfills has decreased largely since then. For details, please click here. An average of 793 tonnes of plastic bags are disposed in landfills in Hong Kong every day. The Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) has allocated $10 million to support a public education programme under the Policy Framework. To tackle the problem, the government is building … The non-inert portion of the waste still goes to landfills. The Hong Kong Government’s Waste Disposal Plan consists of an interwoven network of three very large landfills located in the remote areas of the New Territories outside the city. The Recycling Fund promotes the recovery and recycling of waste into useful resources and products by facilitating the upgrading of operational capabilities and efficiency of the recycling industry to support its sustainable development. This helps Hong Kong make the best use of its valuable land resources. The landfill could hold up to 1.6 million tons of … However, the disposal quantity fluctuates depending on the economic situation and the number of construction projects underway. Arrangements are being developed for the proper treatment and disposal of these wastes, but more time is needed to address community concerns about such facilities. The EPD also offers industry-specific information on waste reduction and outlets for recyclable materials. Hong Kong shoppers are poised to splash out … In 1998, the Government unveiled the Waste Reduction Framework Plan (WRFP), which sets out the various initiatives for waste reduction. This excludes construction waste, chemical waste, clinical waste and other special waste. Hong Kong's landfills on the brink of overflowing 4 Jul 2017 The three landfills used to hold the trash of seven million Hong Kong residents are expected to reach capacity in two years due to poor economic and waste management policies. Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong 2009: PDF. In the densely populated Hong Kong, waste is a complex issue. The Waste Disposal Ordinance is used to enforce controls on waste disposal, including collection and disposal and the import and export of waste. The territory generates around 6.4 million tons of waste each year but is able to collect and process only a minimal portion of recyclable waste. To meet the city’s demand for waste disposal, the government is expanding the South-east New Territories Landfill by an additional 13 hectares, which should meet the city’s landfill needs until 2030. Our recycling rate for paper, glass and metal is lower than that of Singapore. Clinical waste consists of waste generated from various healthcare, laboratory and research practices as defined in Section 2 and Schedule 8 of the Waste Disposal Ordinance. A plastic bag requires hundreds to thousand years to fully decompose. These landfills have taken the benefit of advancement in landfill technology to respond … Tel Aviv’s former landfill, called Hiriya was a horrifying mountain of … Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong 2010: PDF. However, in 2013 and 2014 the waste generated there surpassed over 14,000 tons daily. Livestock Waste Control Scheme has been fully implemented in the management and disposal of livestock waste. The progress of the Plan was reviewed in 2001. WHAT YOU CAN DO Individuals can reduce their waste by buying items with less packaging, using reusable bags for shopping, and separating waste paper, metals and plastics from our daily waste for recycling. With the approval by LegCo of the relevant legislative amendments, full implementation of the scheme to cover all retail outlets territory-wide took effect since 1 April 2015. The, For further information on the impacts of these operations, see the, For detailed information on waste management and disposal, please refer to, To promote local recycling, the Government has developed a 20-hectare, Factories, trades, farmers and others also can refer to, Additionally, the EPD launched a territory-wide Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste in Januray 2005 which encourages housing estates/buildings to set up waste separation facilities on building floors and broaden the types of recyclables to be recovered, so as to increase domestic waste recovery and reduce waste requiring disposal. Growing Wasteloads Hong Kong, like many developed places, has seen its wasteloads grow as its economy has grown. Three strategic landfills namely West New Territories (WENT) Landfill, South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill* and North East New Territories (NENT) Landfill, are the key disposal sites for Hong Kong. Mr Cowland, of Geosystems Ltd HK, is an independent geotechnical engineering consultant based in Hong Kong. We are committed to reviewing the WRFP, and since we are approaching the end of the planning horizon of the WRFP, the Government has to formulate a new strategy. Average solid waste quantities at landfills in Hong Kong in 2019, by main waste category (in tons per day) [Graph]. ), (d) Surface Water / Ground Water Management System. On 5 July 2005, the EAP passed a motion to urge the Administration to include a holistic and comprehensive plan, targets and timeframes for measures in the upcoming strategy document on MSW management. As at end 2015, the first two CGSs in Sha Tin and Eastern districts have started operation, whilst projects in other districts are at different planning stages. We recognise that the growing waste management problem requires continued effort both by the Government and the community at large. THE CHALLENGES The Hong Kong Productivity Council’s report stated that the nearby West New Territories Landfill – the largest of Hong Kong’s three strategic landfills – may be the source of pollutants. Now, the most recent figures released by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) indicate that it’s getting even worse: the rubbish disposal rate per person in Hong Kong has reached the worst levels since records began in 1991.While some of this waste was attributed by Typhoon Mangkhut, which battered the city in 2018, … To achieve this goal, the Blueprint proposes policies and actions in three areas, including to undertake multiple and concurrent actions to drive behavioural change to reduce waste at source through policies and legislation; to roll out targeted territory-wide waste reduction campaigns; and to allocate resources to enhance waste-related infrastructure. Riding on the effective reduction of PSBs distributed by sectors regulated under the scheme, we consulted the public on a proposal to further extending the scheme and received broad community support. Most of the municipal solid waste is recyclable like glass, metals, paper, plastic, wood, etc. Setting out the vision of "Waste Reduction‧Resources Circulation‧Zero Landfill" and building on the “Hong Kong: Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022” released in 2013, this blueprint outlines the strategies, goals and measures to tackle the challenge of waste management up to 2035. To achieve the above goals, the Government will promote six major areas of action, namely Waste Reduction, Waste Separation, Resources Circulation, Industry Support, Innovation and Cooperation, and Education and Publicity, leading the advancement of various policies and measures as well as building a circular economy and a sustainable green living environment. Please click the red spot for information of individual landfill. Waste reduction is often associated with recycling, but it is more complex than that.