Warning on looming waste crisis: act now
Alliance of experts says answer to rubbish woes is incinerators, not landfill - and if we don't act soon refuse will end up on the streets
An alliance of academics and professionals is calling on the government to scale back its plan to extend the city's three landfills in favour of incineration, saying they are fed up with the "never-ending argument" about waste.
And they warn that if nothing is done soon to head off the waste crisis, it could turn into a citywide hygiene problem.
The group of 60 academics from local tertiary institutions and professionals, including engineers, was formed late last month. Members say they are disappointed with government inaction on waste and recycling.
And they want to send a clear message to the public: landfills are not sustainable and should be kept to a minimum, while incineration is the most sensible - and urgently needed - option.
The group stressed it did not have any vested interests, saying the plan was in the city's long-term interests.
"We need to act now, or this will end with rubbish piling up on the streets," said Professor Poon Chi-sun, of Polytechnic University's civil and environmental engineering department, and spokesman for the new Alliance for Promoting Sustainable Waste Management for Hong Kong.