LANDFILLS have long been used as a way of disposing of solid waste in Hong Kong.
There are 13 landfills which constitute a total area of 300 hectares or 1.6 per cent of our total urban area.
Given the fact that land is extremely limited, one may question the valid use of ever-expanding landfilling which is already the size of 15 Victoria Parks. On average, at least 24,000 tonnes of solid waste is collected daily. About 700 tonnes is incinerated, the rest is mostly landfilled.
Like any other waste disposal method, landfill is not without its shortcomings.
Landfills can pollute the environment through the release of contaminated leachate, runoff of contaminated rainwater and air emissions of toxic gases.
It is important to note that even the best liner and leachate collection systems will ultimately fail due to natural deterioration. In view of the envisaged safety and health reasons, the Government has to spend an enormous sum of money, more than $1,600 million, maintaining and restoring landfills. Although we never will be rid of landfills entirely, it is clear that our reliance on them cannot last. In the long run, the goal is to reduce landfilling, through increases in waste reduction, recycling, and waste combustion.