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Waste management in Hong Kong

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In the densely populated Hong Kong, waste is a troublesome issue. The territory generates around 6.4 million tons of waste each year,[1] and by 2015, its existing landfills are expected to be full.[2] The government has introduced waste management schemes and is working to educate the public on the subject. On the commercial side, producers are taking up measures to reduce waste.

Statistics

Hong Kong EPD (Environmental Protection Department) provides data and statistics about waste management.[3]

Waste management process

Overview

In Hong Kong, wastes generated can be categorised as municipal solid waste, construction and demolition waste, chemical waste and other special waste, including: clinical waste, animal carcasses, livestock waste, radioactive waste, grease trap waste and waterworks/sewage sludges. Current (2012), according to Waste Atlas 1st Report waste generation in Hong Kong is around 3,3 million tonnes per year or 464 kg/cap/year.[4]  

Processing

Wastes in Hong Kong are first collected from disposal bins to refuse transfer stations (RTS). After they are compacted and put in containers, they are delivered to disposal lands or recycling centers.

Waste Collection

There are hundreds of collectors in the territory where wastes are located before transferring to refuse transfer stations.[5]

Waste Transport

There are seven refuse transfer stations in the territory. They serve as centralised collection points for the transfer of waste to the strategic landfills.[6]

Landfills

Operated by the EPD, the landfill sites only accept garbage from Hong Kong. Thirteen of 16 landfills were closed from 1988 to 1996.

Strategic landfills

Hong Kong has three strategic landfills in use. All are located in the New Territories:[7][8][9]

Landfill Location Acres Opened Capacity Status
West New Territories Landfill (WENT) Nim Wan, Tuen Mun 110 1993 61 million m³ Active (Full by 2018/2019)
South East New Territories Landfill (SENT) Tseung Kwan O, Junk Bay 100 1994 43 Active (Full by 2014/2015)
North East New Territories Landfill (NENT) Ta Kwu Ling, North District 61 1995 35 Active (Full by 2016/2017)

Closed landfills

There are also 13 closed landfills.[10] The closed landfills are converted into facilities such as golf courses, multi-purpose grass pitches, rest gardens, and ecological parks. Greenhouse gases emitted from closed landfills are used for energy. The closed landfills are:[8][10]

Landfill Location Acres Opened Capacity Status Rehab Period Current use
Gin Drinkers Bay Kwai Tsing District, Tsuen Wan 29 1960 3.5 million tonnes Closed 1999–2000 now Kwai Chung Park
Ngau Tam Mei Tam Mei, Yuen Long District 2 1973 0.15 million tonnes Closed 1999–2000 Green Belt
Plover Cove Tai Mei Tuk, Tai Po District 50 1973 15 million tonnes Closed 1996–1997 golf driving range
Ma Tso Lung Kwu Tong, North District 2 1976 0.2 million tonnes Closed 1999–2000 recreation centre for Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
Ngau Chi Wan Wong Tai Sin District, East Kowloon 8 1976 0.7 million tonnes Closed 1997–1998 Ngau Chi Wan Park
Sai Tso Wan Kwun Tong District, East Kowloon 9 1978 1.6 million tonnes Closed 1997–1998 Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground opened in 2004
Siu Lang Shui Castle Peak 12 1978 1.2 million tonnes Closed 1999–2000 Green Belt
Junk Bay Stage I Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung District 68 1978 15.2 million tonnes Closed 1997–1999 proposed site for football academy and driving range
Ma Yau Tong West Kwun Tong, East Kowloon 6 1979 6 million tonnes Closed 1997–1998 planned recreation facilities
Ma Yau Tong Central Kwun Tong, East Kowloon 11 1981 1.0 million tonnes Closed 1997–1998 future Lam Tin Park
Pillar Point Valley Tuen Mun District 38 1983 13 million tonnes Closed 2004–2006 N/A
Jordan Valley Kwun Tong, East Kowloon 11 1986 1.5 million tonnes Closed 1997–1998 Jordan Valley Park, Opened 2010.
Junk Bay Stage II-III Tseung Kwan O, Sai Kung District 42 1988 12.6 million tonnes Closed 1997–1999 temporary home for Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps model plane training facilities

NGO campaigns

Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth (HK) is one of the local environmental groups in Hong Kong. One of its campaigns emphasises on setting up an all-inclusive recycling system.[11]

Green Power

Green Power, another local environmental organisation, has many activities related to waste control and management. Green Power organises an ongoing "Zero Waste Action", aiming to reduce the waste the territory produces.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Waste problem in Hong Kong (PDF), retrieved 2009-06-28
  2. ^ Ockenden, James (2007-02-27). "HK landfills full in 4-8 years". blueskieschina.com. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  3. ^ EPD - Data & Statistics
  4. ^ "Waste Atlas. (2012). Country Data: HONG KONG SAR, CHINA".
  5. ^ Friends of the Earth (HK)
  6. ^ http://sc.info.gov.hk/gb/www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/prob_solutions/msw_rts.html
  7. ^ Hong Kong Expands Municipal Solid Waste Management System Into The Future
  8. ^ a b http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:BzhHy_GrkQgJ:www.legco.gov.hk/yr05-06/english/sec/library/0506in37e.pdf+Landfills+in+Hong+Kong&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=ca
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ a b http://sc.info.gov.hk/gb/www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/prob_solutions/msw_racl.html
  11. ^ http://www.foe.org.hk/welcome/geten.asp?language=en&id_path=1,%207,%2026,%203008,%203144—
  12. ^ Green Power - Activities
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