The Legislative Council today passed the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill 2005. It will impose legislative control on the management of clinical waste and the disposal of imported waste. It will also set out in the Waste Disposal Ordinance the international ban prohibiting the export of hazardous waste from developed countries.

Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao says the Government aims to implement clinical waste control in mid-2007.

The bill contains provisions to define clinical wastes, and to allow for the licensing of collectors and disposal facility operators.

The Government has conducted an environmental impact assessment on the proposed use of the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre and the findings confirmed that incineration was environmentally sound. The centre is also well equipped to treat clinical waste to meet stringent emission standards.

To allay the concerns of local residents, the Government suggested submitting regular monitoring reports of the treatment centre to the Kwai Tsing District Council, and to employ an independent assessor to provide expert advice to the council on the monitoring report.

Apart from clinical waste management, the bill has also proposed to impose control on the disposal of imported waste and to provide legal backing to the Basel Ban.

It will be an offence for a person to dispose of imported non-hazardous waste without prior authorisation from the Director of Environmental Protection.