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Written by: Lao Minyi
2021-02-22 17:11
The last update date: 2021-02-22 17:11
The Environment Bureau will develop more "waste-to-energy" facilities to treat local waste and achieve the "zero waste landfill" vision. It plans to reduce the expansion area of the New Territories West Landfill by half to about 100 hectares. It is suspected of paving the way for the construction of incinerators. (22nd) Discussed at the Environmental Affairs Committee.
A number of Members said at the meeting that the expansion of landfills to dispose of waste was not satisfactory, and they also asked the second incinerator for details.
Officials replied that the expansion is expected to operate for another 20 years, hoping that there will be enough "waste-to-energy" facilities to treat all municipal solid waste by 2030, and stated that they will study and explore the construction of additional incineration facilities, but did not disclose relevant details.
The "Hong Kong Resource Recycling Blueprint 2035" announced by the Environment Bureau earlier announced that it will prepare for the development of new waste-to-energy facilities to deal with non-recyclable municipal solid waste. It is expected that the facilities will be completed in the 2030s.
If sufficient waste-to-energy facilities can be provided by 2035, including the construction of a second waste incinerator, the government will consider reducing the original expansion area of approximately 200 hectares at the New Territories West Landfill, so that Hong Kong will no longer be overly dependent The landfill directly disposes of garbage.
According to a document submitted to the Legislative Council recently, the Bureau has planned to reduce the expansion area of the New Territories West Landfill from the original design of about 200 hectares to about 100 hectares. The area used for waste landfill is also halved, from the original design. About 180 hectares have been reduced to about 94 hectares. Construction is expected to start at the end of next year and it will be commissioned in 2026.
Members asked for details of the second incinerator, officials did not respond positively
Liu Yeqiang, a member of the Legislative Council of the Heung Yee Kuk and a representative of the residents of Lung Kwu Tan, described the expansion of landfills as a helpless and unacceptable option. He believed that Hong Kong’s conversion of waste into energy facilities was very backward and asked whether the government wanted Build a large-scale incineration facility in Tuen Mun.
Lu Weiguo, a member of the Engineering Legislative Council, feels "very complicated" about the expansion of landfills, and believes that it is not ideal in the long run, forming a vicious circle.
He believes that an incinerator that can only process 3,000 metric tons of waste per day is not enough to deal with the waste problem. In addition, the relevant technology is quite mature. He hopes that the bureau will explain when and where the second waste-to-energy facility will be set up. .
The Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department, Wu Jiangmei Ni, responded that there is a need to expand the landfill before there are enough facilities to turn waste into energy. It is hoped that after the leveling project is completed, it can operate for 20 years. She emphasized that the goal of the blueprint is not to dump waste into the landfill. It is hoped that by the middle of 2030, there will be enough waste-to-energy facilities to treat all municipal solid waste. The premise is that waste reduction and recycling are well done, and there are enough facilities for end-of-life treatment and no longer rely on landfills.
She added that the first phase of the integrated waste management facility will be completed in 2025. It is necessary to study and explore the construction of additional facilities for treatment, hoping to do a good job in reducing waste at the source and recycling resources.
The Environment Bureau recently published the "Hong Kong Resource Recycling Blueprint 2035". The medium-term goal is to implement municipal solid waste charging. The per capita disposal volume will be gradually reduced by 40% to 45% compared with 2020, and zero waste landfill will be reached by 2035.
(Photo/Photo by Li Zetong)
Concerned about hygiene and traffic problems in the district
Some Members are concerned about the smell and hygiene problems caused by garbage trucks, and they are also worried about aggravating traffic problems in the district.
Wu Jiang Mei Ni responded by saying that cleaning, inspection, supervision, law enforcement, etc. will be strengthened, and water transportation will be strengthened as much as possible. It has increased to 90%, and the rest is mainly in the Butterfly Bay area in Tuen Mun, most of which are odorless construction waste , Wood, tires, etc., will be studied after the expansion.
Regarding traffic issues, Ng Kong Mei Ni stated that the Civil Engineering and Development Department of the Development Bureau will re-examine the regional transportation facilities for the Lung Kwu Tan reclamation and re-planning of the Tuen Mun West development. The Highways Department will also consult on Route 11 as soon as possible to plan the Tuen Mun Bypass. The project will start survey and environmental assessment this year.
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