Hong Kong's landfills could be full in four to seven years if the dumping of construction and demolition waste is not controlled, the environment chief warned yesterday.
Previous government warnings have said that even with controls, the dwindling waste sites will run out of space in eight to 12 years.
Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung made her comments in Legco before lawmakers passed the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill at its second reading. A third reading, usually a formality before a bill passes into law, is likely to be sometime next year.
Under the bill, the construction industry will be charged varying amounts to dump construction and demolition waste, depending on whether they have sorted it for recycling.
Unsorted waste will cost $125 a tonne to dump at landfills. Sorted waste, depending on its contents, will cost $27 to dump at reclamation sites and $100 a tonne at waste-sorting facilities if not fully sorted.
Construction sites started before the introduction of the scheme will be exempt from the new charges.
