Environment chief calls for talks on Lantau incinerator

News›Hong Kong

ENVIRONMENT

Cheung Chi-fai chifai.cheung@scmp.com (CTA COMMENTS IN CAPITAL LETTERS )

The environment minister called for a discussion on building an incinerator as a part of Hong Kong’s waste strategy, calling it irresponsible if talks don’t take place. DISCUSSION WITH WHOM ? THE CURRENT ENB HAS BEEN HANDED A BAG OF BONES BY THE FORMER INCUMBENT WHO SHOULD BE ON MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE CHARGES. CHECK OUT THE HEDLEY INDEX FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED DURING YAU’S TENURE DUE TO LOCAL POLLUTION. WHAT DID YAU ACHIEVE IN HIS TIME AS ENB CHIEF , OR RATHER LIST WHAT HE FAILED TO DO !

EDWARD YAU / BOWTIE LEGACY. ROADSIDE POLLUTION INCREASED ON THEIR WATCH, SHIPPING POLLUTION WAS UNREGULATED AND IS NOW OUR TOP POLLUTER + GOVT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE IMPORT OF HIGH SULPHUR BUNKER FUELS, EXPAT AND LOCAL TALENT DEPARTED FOR CLEANER CLIMES, YAU SIGNED OVERGENEROUS SCHEME OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS AND BUS FRANCHISES BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE AND THERE IS NO WASTE POLICY ON SOURCE SEPARATION OF MSW INSTEAD OF PURSUING AND LEGISLATING A ZERO WASTE SEPARATE-RECYCLE -REUSE POLICY – KS AND CHRISTINE INHERITED A BIG MESS FROM YAU AND BOW TIE. MEANWHILE OUR URBAN CANYON BUILDING TYCOON CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PRODUCES 30,000 TONNES OF WASTE PER DAY OF WHICH 12% GOES TO LANDFILL.

Wong Kam-sing said that waste reduction at source remained a top priority for the government and that he would present his blueprint on waste reduction and treatment soon. YET GOVERNMENT DOES NOT COLLECT COMMUNITY SORTED AND SEPARATED WASTE FROM PRIVATE ESTATES FOR RECYCLING ! IT ALL GETS DUMPED TOGETHER AND LANDFILLED.

Speaking on a radio programme on Monday morning, he said an incinerator along with landfill expansion might be necessary, adding that such a plan would be in line with what other overseas jurisdictions do. INCORRECT – THEY NEED WASTE CHARGING LAWS AND GAS PLASMA PLANTS SITED AT THE LANDFILLS. THE LANDFILLS CAN BE REVERSE MINED, PLASMAROK INERT AGGREGATE RESIDUES CAN BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION .

He warned existing landfills would fill up, one by one, by 2020.INCINERATION CONVERTS WASTE TO ANOTHER FORM OF WASTE = ASH, 22% BOTTOM ASH AND 7% TOXIC FLY ASH BY WEIGHT , PER DAY, WHICH NEEDS TO BE ………… LANDFILLED ! HENCE THE NEED TO BUILD MAN MADE ISLANDS IN THE SEA AS THE NEW ASH LAGOONS.

Alongside plans to roll out schemes such as glass bottle recycling, Wong also said it was time to initiate a discussion on building an incinerator and extending landfills. DISCUSSION WITH WHOM ?

“If we talk about it today, it doesn’t mean that we will implement it right now. What we need is time for more consideration. TALK WITH WHOM ?

“It is irresponsible to avoid this discussion. We need to look at what the incinerator’s role is, how big it needs to be and what technology can be used,” he said. INCINERATORS KILL AND CAUSE CANCERS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS DOWNWIND OF THEM ! FACT ! BETTER TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE. LARGE ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS FOR FOOD WASTE AND GASPLASMA FOR THE REST. SOLENA FUELS GASPLASMA SYSTEM CAN CREATE BIO MARINE AND JET FUELS FROM MSW WITH MINIMAL EMISSIONS AS WELL AS BIO NAPTHA FOR MAKING PLASTIC BOTTLES THAT CAN BE RECYCLED. SAN FRANCISCO HAS 77% DIVERSION RATE FOR MSW SINCE IT HAS LAWS ON CONSTRUCTION WASTE AND FOOD WASTE AND MANDATORY RECYCLING – IT SEEKS ZERO WASTE STATUS BY 2020.

IF EVERY GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD WAS LIKE HK GOVERNMENT THERE WOULD BE NO ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION, NOTHING WOULD GET BUILT.

HKG GOVT IS ULTRA CONSERVATIVE AND NOT A PIONEER – THEY WANT GUINEA PIG TECH THAT OTHERS HAVE TRIED AND TESTED FIRST WHILST HAVING MORE MONEY IN THE BANK THAN OTHERS AND THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO TEST OUT SUCH TECHNOLOGY – THERE IS NO RUSH- THE INCINERATOR JR AND THE APPEALS HAVE GIVEN THEM TIME TO RECONSIDER THEIR (DAFT) INCINERATION IDEA. WORST CASE THEY CAN FILL UP CARGO SHIPS AND SELL THE MSW TO EUROPE AT A PROFIT DUE TO INCINERATION OVERCAPCITY THERE. THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MSW FEEDSTOCKS AND CITIES LIKE OSLO ARE WILLING TO BUY IT.

The government last year proposed to build an incinerator with a capacity of 3,000 tonnes at Soko (SWC ! NOT SOKO) Island, south Lantau. The project is now being challenged in court. AND THE APPEAL OF THE APPEAL WILL LAST TILL END 2014. SWC WOULD NOT BE OPERATIONAL TILL 2022, BY THEN THE REST OF THE WORLD WILL BE USING GASPLASMA SUCCESSFULLY FOR UP TO 7 YEARS – TEESSIDE AIRPRODUCTS FIRST 950 TONNES PER DAY GASPLASMA PLANT WILL BE OPERATIONAL Q1 OF 2014 ! SOLENA / BRITISH AIRWAYS MSW TO BIOFUEL PLANT WILL BE OPERATIONAL IN 2015, BA HAVE AGREED TWO ADDITIONAL PLANTS IN SPAIN AND A SECOND PLANT IN UK. SOLENA SIGNED MOUs WITH ALITALIA, SAS, FEDEX, AMERICAN, AIR CANADA etc (TEN MAJOR WORLD AIRLINES who will have done their due diligence on the technology)

It also proposed to expand the three strategic landfills in Tuen Mun, Ta Kwu Ling and Tseung Kwan O. LEGCO ALREADY REJECTED EXTENDING TSEUNG KWAN O, SENT LANDFILL CANNOT BE EXTENDED INTO THE COUNTRY PARK.

Both plans have met with strong opposition from locals. AND THE PANEL ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REJECTED THE INCINERATOR PROJECT IN 2012 – WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN THAT THEY SHOULD CHANGE THEIR MINDS ?.

Wong also talked about a proposed HK$10 billion scheme to replace old diesel vehicles, saying the plan was sensible and reasonable, despite truck drivers’ concerns that it might disrupt their livelihoods. IF YAU HAD DONE THIS EARLIER WE WOULD HAVE SAVED MONEY AND SAVED LIVES.

On conflict between environment and development, Wong said there were already rules outlining the minimum space between buildings and the proportion of greening in new developments. URBAN CANYON DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE BY THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION / DEVELOPER NEXUS.

“With these measures, we can still make our city more livable even if we are going to increase our housing density,” he said.

ENB NEEDS A CHARISMATIC SPIN DOCTOR WHO CAN ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC. WITH PUBLIC ACQUIESCENCE EVEN THE MAVERICK OPPOSE EVERYTHING, SHOOT-SELF-IN-FOOT LAWMAKERS WOULD HAVE TO TOE THE LINE. IT NEEDS TO PACKAGE ITS PROPOSALS AND ADD OPTIONS SUCH AS MODULAR GAS PLASMA PLANTS AND LARGE FOOD WASTE DIGESTERS INTO THE MIX. LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE IN A PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON ALL OPTIONS.

NAIVE FEAR MONGERING (‘WE WILL HAVE TRASH IN OUR STREETS’) AND (‘WE HAVE NO PLAN B’) ARE LUDICROUS COMMENTS FOR A 300+K A MONTH MINISTER TO UTTER AND HE GOT THE RELEVANT DISDAIN FROM LEGCO MEMBERS AND WORSENED ENB’S CHANCES OF PROGRESS.

Incinerator

Landfill

Wong Kam-sing

Environment Bureau

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