Environmental Protection Department May Request Relevant Operators to Provide Proof
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香港環境保護 ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2019 Table of Contents 03 Foreword By The Secretary 60 Sustainable Development For The Environment 64 Cross-boundary and 05 Permanent Secretary / International Co-operation Director’s Message 07 Pollution Prevention and Control Air 08 Noise 13 Water 17 Environmental Assessment 21 Environmental Compliance 25 29 Resource Management Waste Reduction 30 Waste Facilities 36 Energy 40 Nature Conservation 46 50 Stakeholder Engagement Building Partnerships 08 Community Awareness 55 ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2019 FOREWORD BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Foreword By The Secretary For The Environment -03- ù www.enb.gov.hk ù www.epd.gov.hk ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2019 Climate change is one of the world’s most pressing Not only will these measures help reduce Hong Kong’s energy respectively. They follow the T·PARK which environmental issues. All of us therefore have a duty carbon emissions, they can also improve local and started its operation in 2016 to reduce the bulk of to contribute positively to mitigating climate change. regional air quality. The Government has carried on with sewage sludge using waste-to-energy technology, We have committed to reducing Hong Kong’s carbon its longstanding efforts to require cleaner emissions generate renewable energy for its own use and export intensity by 65%-70% by 2030 compared with 2005. To from vehicles, power plants and other sources, and to the surplus electricity to the power grid. All these achieve that, the Government has introduced a number tighten the statutory emission standards in phases. We major recycling facilities have been completed and of initiatives, including signing the new Scheme of have also been working on these issues with our regional commissioned successively. In the coming years, Control Agreements with the two power companies, counterparts. In 2018, we completed a review of Air the O·PARK2 and the Integrated Waste Management which took effect on 1 October 2018 and 1 January Quality Objectives and we are examining the feasibility of Facilities Phase 1 designed for treating MSW will join the 2019 respectively, to increase significantly the proportion further tightening the standards. forces of our infrastructure for turning waste into energy. of natural gas in the fuel mix, and to encourage the two companies to promote energy efficiency and conservation On waste management, we are undertaking multiple and In 2018, we conducted a study on ways to enhance the as well as the development of renewable energy. concurrent actions to promote waste reduction at source recreation and education potential of country parks, such and clean recycling, through introducing the legislation as introducing treetop adventures and open museums At the user end, we are also encouraging businesses to implement municipal solid waste (MSW) charging for historic relics. We also established a new Countryside and individuals to minimise their carbon footprints. and implementing various policies and regulations on Conservation Office to co-ordinate and promote The new Building Energy Codes issued in 2018 have waste reduction in phases, including a series of producer conservation and revitalisation in remote countryside. set much enhanced energy efficiency standards. We responsibility schemes (PRS). In November 2018, we Moreover, we planned to set up a funding scheme to have also expedited the provision of tax reduction as a introduced the bill on MSW charging into the Legislative support non-profit-making organisations and villagers financial incentive for builders to invest in environmental Council. In parallel, we will continue to strengthen the in organising diverse and innovative activities which help protection installation. Members of the public are work on further promoting waste reduction and recycling. conserve the natural environment, built heritage and encouraged to assess their carbon emissions and In 2018, we implemented a PRS for waste electrical and cultural assets. take on board some low carbon living tips in respect electronic equipment (WEEE) that requires dealers to be of clothing, food, living and travel in their daily life registered and to provide consumers with free removal To combat global climate change and build a more through the use of the Low Carbon Living Calculator service to dispose of their abandoned equipment. liveable environment in Hong Kong, the Government, the launched in 2018. We have also invited the Council for business sector and the community must work hand Sustainable Development to conduct a territory-wide Two advanced recycling facilities commenced operation in hand to reduce carbon emission and conserve our public engagement exercise in 2019 to gauge public in 2018 − the WEEE·PARK for recycling WEEE and the environment by, among other things, stepping up efforts views on Hong Kong’s long-term decarbonisation O·PARK1 (Organic Resources Recovery Centre Phase 1) in energy conservation, green commuting, and practising strategy up to 2050 for deeper decarbonisation. for treating food waste, showcasing the concept of “use less, waste less”, to treasure this very home of ours. Mr. Wong Kam-sing, GBS, JP turning waste into resources and turning waste into Secretary for the Environment Foreword By The Secretary For The Environment -04- ù www.enb.gov.hk ù www.epd.gov.hk ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2019 PERMANENT SECRETARY / DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Permanent Secretary / Director’s Message -05- ù www.enb.gov.hk ù www.epd.gov.hk ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2019 In 2018, we continued to step up efforts to improve Hong and consumers) to share responsibility for the collection, impact on Hong Kong’s carbon emissions. Kong’s environment. recycling, treatment and disposal of end-of-life products. A PRS on glass is also being implemented progressively Improvements to our local and regional environment also On waste, we have a multi-pronged strategy to reduce and plans are being mapped out for a PRS on plastic continued in 2018. Programmes to control emissions waste at source, recycle and treat the remainder, and beverage containers. from power plants, vehicles, vessels and other sources promote a waste reduction mindset among Hong Kong have resulted in significant reductions in a range of air residents. In 2017 (the most recent year for figures), these Although these programmes will help to reduce waste at pollutants. As a result, we now plan to consult the public efforts helped to reduce domestic waste loads by 1.9% source, other measures are still needed to reduce waste in 2019 on tightening local Air Quality Objectives. Water over 2016. However, commercial and industrial waste volume and recover useful resources, such as energy, quality continued to be very good in 2018 so we are now rose by 4.1%. This was in part due to a buoyant economy. compost, metals, etc. In 2018 the WEEE•PARK opened to focused on reducing near-shore and shoreline pollution. But it also is a sign we need to be more aggressive in treat WEEE, as well as the Organic Resources Recovery promoting waste reduction. Centre Phase 1 (O•PARK1) to treat up to 200 tonnes of The examples of both air quality and water quality show it food waste per day. More such facilities are planned, is possible to improve our environment. But it is not cheap Several new measures announced in 2018 will move us including other phases of the O•PARK and the Integrated or easy, and everyone must do their share. The coming towards that goal. A bill on municipal solid waste (MSW) Waste Management Facilities Phase 1, which will treat up years will require all of us to do more to reduce waste and charging was introduced into the Legislative Council to 3 000 tonnes of MSW per day after its commissioning lower our carbon impacts. The Government will support that provides financial incentives to reduce waste. in 2024. The Government is also making progress in these efforts every step of the way. The Government will also provide additional recurrent expanding the capacity of existing landfills to receive resources to strengthen waste reduction and recycling, the residues of these facilities and other non-recyclable starting at around HK$300-400 million for the financial waste. year 2019-20 and increasing to no less than HK$800- 1,000 million when MSW charging is implemented. On energy efficiency, the Government has set an example This funding will support on-site assistance for waste to the community by reducing our energy consumption by reduction and recycling; free territory-wide collection for 4.9% compared to 2013-14. In 2018 we also introduced waste plastics and food waste from various sources, new standards for Building Energy Codes (BECs) that subject to the outcomes of pilot schemes; and a pilot represent an 18% enhancement on energy efficiency scheme to assess the effectiveness of reverse vending compared to the original BECs of 2012. New Scheme of machines for recycling plastic beverage containers. 2018 Control Agreements that came into effect in October 2018 also saw the launch of a Producer Responsibility Scheme and January 2019 provide additional incentives for the (PRS) for waste electrical and electronic equipment two power companies to promote energy efficiency in the Ms. Cheng Mei Sze, Maisie, JP Permanent Secretary for the Environment / Director of (WEEE), which requires stakeholders (e.g. manufacturers community. Together, these measures will have a positive Environmental Protection Permanent Secretary / Director’s Message -06- ù www.enb.gov.hk ù www.epd.gov.hk ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2019 POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL Pollution Prevention and Control -07- ù www.enb.gov.hk ù www.epd.gov.hk ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2019 AIR Highlights Completed a review of AQOs. Raising the Bar ❖ Hong Kong’s air quality has been steadily improving as Passed legislation requiring new ❖ non-road vehicles to meet the same a result of higher standards for acceptable emissions emission standards as vehicles on from vehicles, power plants and other sources.