In the densely populated city of Hong Kong, waste is a troublesome issue. The city 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.
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Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD) provides data and statistics about waste management.[3]
In Hong Kong, wastes generated can be categorized 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.
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.
There are hundreds of collectors in the city where wastes are located before transferring to refuse transfer stations.[4]
There are seven refuse transfer stations in the city. They serve as centralised collection points for the transfer of waste to the strategic landfills.[5]
Operated by the EPD, the landfill sites only accept garbage from Hong Kong. Thirteen of 16 landfills were closed from 1988 to 1996.
Hong Kong has three strategic landfills in use. All are located in the New Territories:[6][7]
| Landfill | Location | Acres | Opened | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West New Territories Landfill (WENT) | Nim Wan, Tuen Mun | 110 | 1993 | 61 million m³ | Active |
| South East New Territories Landfill (SENT) | Tai Chik Sha, Tseung Kwan O | 100 | 1994 | 43 | Active |
| North East New Territories Landfill (NENT) | Ta Kwu Ling[8] | 61 | 1995 | 35 | Active |
There are also 13 closed landfills.[9] 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:[7][9]
| Landfill | Location | Acres | Opened | Capacity | Status | Rehab Period | Current use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gin Drinkers Bay | Kwai Tsing District | 29 | 1960 | 3.5 million tonnes | Closed | 1999–2000 | now Kwai Chung Park |
| Ngau Tam Mei | Yuen Long District | 2 | 1973 | 0.15 million tonnes | Closed | 1999–2000 | Green Belt |
| Shuen Wan | Tai Po District | 50 | 1973 | 15 million tonnes | Closed | 1996–1997 | golf driving range |
| Ma Tso Lung | 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 | 8 | 1976 | 0.7 million tonnes | Closed | 1997–1998 | recreation area |
| Sai Tso Wan | Kwun Tong District | 9 | 1978 | 1.6 million tonnes | Closed | 1997–1998 | Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground opened in 2004 |
| Siu Lang Shui | Tuen Mun District | 12 | 1978 | 1.2 million tonnes | Closed | 1999–2000 | Green Belt |
| Tseung Kwan O Stage I | 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 | 6 | 1979 | 6 million tonnes | Closed | 1997–1998 | planned recreation facilities |
| Ma Yau Tong Central | Kwun Tong | 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 | 11 | 1986 | 1.5 million tonnes | Closed | 1997–1998 | Jordan Valley Park, Opened 2010. |
| Tseung Kwun O Stage II-III | Sai Kung District | 42 | 1988 | 12.6 million tonnes | Closed | 1997–1999 | temporary home for Hong Kong Air Cadets Corps model plane training facilities |
Friends of the Earth (HK) is one of the local environmental groups in Hong Kong. One of its campaigns emphasizes on setting up an all-inclusive recycling system.[10]
Green Power, another local environmental organization, has many activities related to waste control and management. Green Power organizes an on-going "Zero Waste Action", aiming to reduce the waste the city produces.[11]
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