Polluters pay: The levy of charges for the disposal of construction waste at government facilities will start from January 20.

The levy of charges for the disposal of construction waste at government facilities will start from January 20, the Environmental Protection Department says, adding there will be little incentive for fly tipping.

The charges for disposing of one tonne of construction waste at public fill reception facilities, sorting facilities and landfills are $27, $100 and $125. More details are available here.

Since the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme came into operation on December 1 last year, the department has so far received more than 10,000 account applications.

Under the charging scheme, construction waste producers are required to open a billing account with the department in advance for disposing of construction waste. Anyone disposing of construction waste at public fill reception facilities, sorting facilities and landfills is required to hand in chits issued under a billing account upon delivery of waste to these facilities. Similarly, for the refuse transfer stations on outlying islands, valid chits are required for the disposal of construction waste.

Account holders urged to collect chits

Account holders should collect the chits from the department or the Civil Engineering & Development Department as soon as possible.

As the scheme is devised in such a way that waste haulers are not responsible for the payment of the levy, there will be little incentive for fly tipping.

Nonetheless, the department will spare no effort in tackling fly-tipping activities, and will step up enforcement action against the practice. In December,  500 inspections and ambush operations were conducted at about 240 fly-tipping blackspots throughout the city. The maximum penalty for such offences is a $200,000 penalty and six months' jail.