Landfill in Cleawater Bay Country Park?
Possible Expansion of TKO Landfill Site
Update on this story: Country Park Dump
Is it not ironic that the very department that is tasked with protecting the environment is considering turning part of Clear Water Bay Country Park into a landfill site?
Although a consultancy study says that “the plan would have an impact on some rare and protected butterflies and birds”, our Environmental Protection Department (EPD) says “the ecological impact on the country park would be small”.
The SCMP reported 10 Jan 06 that the TKO landfill averages approximately 8,000 tons of waste per day, and it is estimated that it will be full within 5 years. Evidently all three government landfills are to be expanded but only that within SK District could encroach upon a country park.
EPD is considering three options, one of which would assume land within park boundaries. We understand that the other two options are on flat ground and, since the land within the park is elevated, it would afford much larger capacity.
Explore is currently trying to determine if the estimate of tonnage quoted includes the reductions assumed under the recently released policy statement on solid waste management which suggests a reduction of 1% per year. Surely stronger measures could be put into place to elevate this percentage?
Just from the consumer standpoint - consider the number of glass bottles that are thrown in the landfill every day (since there is no alternative to do so) and the amount of plastic and paper that is tipped because recycling bins are too few and far between and those that exist are often overflowing. The government must begin to look at new means to promote recycling - including incentive schemes such as those in place worldwide.
Incentives for recycling companies and recycling technology innovators and adaptors as well as incentives for consumers to sort and return would cost a great deal less (both monetarily and environmentally) than continually increasing landfill sites.
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We will update this story as we receive further information. Check back frequently.
In the meantime – click below for a list of names, phone numbers, and email addresses of those to whom you can send your thoughts. If you have suggestions for additional contacts – please let us know.
And, please go to our discussion board and have your say...
Government, Advisory Board, and LegCo Contacts (as of 10 Jan 2006)
Let us plant the seed of quality life for our future generations together. Sustainable MSW [municipal solid waste] management is not only about solving an imminent problem, but also about a long-term investment for our future generations. A Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (2005-2014) Released 15 December 2005 |
"Dump would turn heavenly trail into hell" SCMP Wednesday 11 January 2006