Yuen Long recycling site fined $16,000 for illegal handling of hazardous e-waste
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An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that during an enforcement inspection at Shap Pat Heung, Yuen Long, in June last year, its officers found a batch of printed circuit boards (PCBs), which were dismantled from waste computers, at an open recycling site. After investigation and evidence collection, the EPD confirmed that the waste PCBs stored at the recycling site were classified as chemical waste, and the recycling site was suspected of violating the storage requirements of chemical waste control. The EPD subsequently initiated prosecution against the responsible person of the recycling site in accordance with the Regulation.
The spokesman said, "As waste PCBs contain various hazardous substances and heavy metals (mainly including lead, chromium, mercury, nickel, tin and halogenated organic compounds), they are classified as chemical waste. Improper handling of PCBs will cause harm to the environment and people's health. As such, recycling site operators should collect, store, dispose of or import and export PCBs in a manner in accordance with the requirements of the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Regulation."
The EPD reminded recycling practitioners that if they produce chemical waste (such as PCBs), they should register with the EPD as required by the law. Chemical waste must be properly packed, labelled and stored as stipulated by the law, and must be delivered by licensed chemical waste collectors to licensed chemical waste disposal facilities for disposal. Importing or exporting chemical waste without a permit from the EPD constitutes an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Members of the public may visit the EPD's website for more information about the control of chemical waste: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.
Ends/Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:52
Issued at HKT 18:52
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