The Government's impending move to charge for landfill dumping is pushing developers to implement green demolition schemes to save costs in the long term.
Robert Wong, executive director of Hongkong Land, said the group was starting a pilot waste-management procedure at a residential redevelopment at 26 Belcher's Street in Western District. The site would be developed into a commercial and residential tower of about 140 units by early 2004.
'We anticipate developers could save some costs in the long run, although it [an individual pilot scheme] involves an additional demolition cost of 10 to 15 per cent at present,' Mr Wong said.
The developer must follow standardised procedures in demolition and segregate all salvageable items for recycling, site formation or landfill.
'Our primary aim is to reduce the amount of construction spoil and support the Government's aim to reduce the loading to landfill or public fill sites,' he said.
Such process involved more manpower and a longer time than general demolition, Mr Wong said.