EPD refutes landfill claim

August 02, 2013

In response to a media report about the West New Territories Landfill, the Environmental Protection Department clarified today that it and its contractor have not carried out any works relating to the extension of the landfill ahead of approval.
 
It said the soil stockpiling site in the landfill covering an area of about 1.5 hectares falls within the boundary of the landfill contract. The site is the borrow area where the landfill contractor, SITA Waste Services, can stockpile soil for future use and daily operations in accordance with the operational requirements.
 
The landfill area in the contract drawing has remained the same since the contract was awarded in 1993. As part of the landfill operation, the contractor can carry out site formation, soil excavation and storage works within the borrow area for operational needs.
 
As past construction projects in Hong Kong have already provided sufficient fill, it is unnecessary for the contractor to carry out large-scale soil excavation works in the borrow area.
 
Early last year the contractor started to store inert construction materials received at the borrow area for reuse in the construction of temporary haul roads and cappings in the landfill. When these materials are being temporarily stored at the borrow area, the contractor will cover aggregate on the stored stockpile face to prevent dust dispersion.