A vehicle maintenance operator who improperly handled waste lead-acid batteries was fined $17,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 20) for contravening the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.

     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that its officers intercepted a truck carrying waste lead-acid batteries at a public car park in an open area in Fanling in May this year. After investigation, it was found that the man, without registering as a chemical waste producer with the EPD, provided maintenance and lead-acid battery replacement services for other vehicles and stored waste lead-acid batteries in a truck while awaiting collection by unauthorised collectors. The EPD subsequently initiated prosecution against him for violating the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation. The defendant pleaded guilty today.

     The spokesman said, "As waste lead-acid batteries contain sulphuric acid and lead, they are classified as chemical waste. It is therefore inappropriate to provide lead-acid battery replacement services in public car parks. As producers of waste lead-acid batteries, members of the vehicle maintenance trade must handle the waste batteries properly in appropriate premises and in accordance with legal requirements to avoid causing danger to the environment and public health. Apart from the vehicle maintenance trade, businesses such as data centre operation and installation and maintenance of telecommunication systems are also major users of lead-acid batteries."

     According to the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation, companies, institutions or premises generating chemical waste must register with the EPD. Chemical waste must be properly packed, labelled and stored as stipulated by the law, and must be delivered to the EPD's licensed chemical waste treatment facilities for disposal by licensed chemical waste collectors. It is an offence for anyone to collect, store, dispose of, import or export chemical waste in a manner not in accordance with the legal requirements. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.

Ends/Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:45

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