Waste management in Hong Kong


In the densely populated Hong Kong, waste is a complex issue. 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. By 2019, its existing landfills are expected to be full. 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 provides data and statistics about waste management.

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, according to Waste Atlas 1st Report waste generation in Hong Kong is around 6.4 million tonnes per year or 900 kg/cap/year.

Processing

Wastes in Hong Kong are first collected from disposal bins to refuse transfer stations. 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.

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.

Landfills

Operated by the EPD, the landfill sites only accept garbage from Hong Kong. Thirteen of 16 landfills were closed from 1988 to 1996. Starting from 6 January 2016, the South East New Territories Landfill will only receive construction waste.

Strategic landfills

Hong Kong has three strategic landfills in use. All are located in the New Territories:
LandfillLocationHectareOpenedCapacityStatus
West New Territories Landfill Nim Wan, Tuen Mun110199361 million m³Active
South East New Territories Landfill Tseung Kwan O, Junk Bay100199443Active
North East New Territories Landfill Ta Kwu Ling, North District61199535Active

Closed landfills

There are also 13 closed landfills. 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:
LandfillLocationHectareOpenedCapacityStatusRehab PeriodCurrent use
Gin Drinkers BayKwai Tsing District, Tsuen Wan2919603.5 million tonnesClosed1999–2000now Kwai Chung Park
Ngau Tam MeiTam Mei, Yuen Long District219730.15 million tonnesClosed1999–2000Green Belt
Plover CoveTai Mei Tuk, Tai Po District50197315 million tonnesClosed1996–1997golf driving range
Ma Tso LungKwu Tong, North District219760.2 million tonnesClosed1999–2000recreation centre for Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
Ngau Chi WanWong Tai Sin District, East Kowloon819760.7 million tonnesClosed1997–1998Ngau Chi Wan Park
Sai Tso WanKwun Tong District, East Kowloon919781.6 million tonnesClosed1997–1998Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground opened in 2004
Siu Lang ShuiCastle Peak1219781.2 million tonnesClosed1999–2000Green Belt
Junk Bay Stage ITseung Kwan O, Sai Kung District68197815.2 million tonnesClosed1997–1999proposed site for football academy and driving range
Ma Yau Tong WestKwun Tong, East Kowloon619796 million tonnesClosed1997–1998planned recreation facilities
Ma Yau Tong CentralKwun Tong, East Kowloon1119811.0 million tonnesClosed1997–1998future Lam Tin Park
Pillar Point ValleyTuen Mun District38198313 million tonnesClosed2004–2006N/A
Jordan ValleyKwun Tong, East Kowloon1119861.5 million tonnesClosed1997–1998Jordan Valley Park, Opened 2010.
Junk Bay Stage II-IIITseung Kwan O, Sai Kung District42198812.6 million tonnesClosed1997–1999temporary home for Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps model plane training facilities

Management of emissions from waste

The degradation of the organic components contained within waste generates both gaseous and liquid emissions. Landfill gas, principally methane and carbon dioxide, is formed once anaerobic conditions are achieved within the landfill, and leachate is formed as liquids percolate through landfilled waste and pick up a cocktail of toxic and contaminating elements from the multiple waste fractions that comprise Municipal Solid Waste. Both can be harmful to human health and toxic to the environment. Landfill gas is an important source of greenhouse gases that has been clearly shown to contribute to global warming, whilst leachate can be an important source of local contamination, especially to waterways. As Hong Kong is very close to the sea as well as to heavily built up areas, the control of emissions is of high importance. Wherever possible, landfill gas is used as a fuel for the generation of power and, in Hong Kong, landfill gas is used to generate electricity and to provide power for the treatment of leachate produced from the landfilled waste. The technology used for landfill gas management is well-known throughout the world and includes on-site power generation, provision of heat for leachate treatment and off-site use as a source of natural biogas for feeding into the gas main. Leachate is treated using landfill gas to provide heat for reducing the heavy loading of ammonia and ensuring that it can be released into the environment according to strict criteria as specified by the , and the process is employed at all three strategic landfill sites cited above.

NGO campaigns

Friends of the Earth

is one of the local environmental groups in Hong Kong. One of its campaigns emphasises on setting up an all-inclusive recycling system.

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.