Garage owner, collector and truck driver convicted of illegal handling and collection of waste vehicle batteries

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     A garage owner in Chai Wan who illegally handed waste lead acid batteries (WLABs) to a non-licensed collector was convicted by Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (July 6) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation. In addition, the unlicensed collector and a truck driver involved in the case were convicted on May 29. The three offenders were fined a total of $18,000.

     During an enforcement operation in November last year, Environmental Protection Department (EPD) staff found that the owner of a garage at Cheung Lee Street in Chai Wan sold WLABs, which are classified as chemical waste, to an unlicensed waste collector. Upon investigation, the EPD verified that though the garage owner had registered with the department as a chemical waste producer, he had failed to handle WLABs in accordance with the law. The EPD thus prosecuted the garage owner.

     An EPD spokesman said, "WLABs contain sulphuric acid and lead, and are classified as chemical waste. Operators engaged in vehicle repairing businesses, being chemical waste producers, should comply with the legal requirements and procure the services of licensed chemical waste collectors to properly handle their waste vehicle batteries, so as to avoid committing an offence and being prosecuted."

     According to the law, shops providing vehicle battery replacement or vehicle repair services will generate chemical waste and they must register with the EPD as chemical waste producers. Chemical waste must be properly packaged, labelled and stored as stipulated by law, and must be delivered by licensed chemical waste collectors to the EPD's licensed chemical waste treatment facilities for disposal. For replacement of car batteries, vehicle owners should engage the services of registered vehicle repair shops or companies. Anyone who illegally collects, stores or disposes of chemical waste commits an offence and will be prosecuted. 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/Thursday, July 6, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:35

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