A person who illegally deposited construction waste at Pik Sha Road in Sai Kung was convicted and fined a total of $10,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts yesterday, 12 October for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO).
During blitz operations conducted at night by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in March and May this year, the offender was caught red-handed by enforcement officers. The case involved a renovation worker who was caught for illegal disposal of construction waste by unloading four bags of rubble from a goods vehicle and abandoning them on the roadside of Pik Sha Road in Sai Kung. The offender was prosecuted after investigation in accordance with the WDO.
A spokesman for EPD reminded those involved in building renovation or waste handling that they should dispose of waste properly in accordance with the law, or else they will be prosecuted. Reusable materials or waste with recycling value should be collected by recyclers, while non-recyclable waste should be delivered to appropriate waste management facilities, such as designated waste transfer stations, public fill reception facilities or landfills, for proper treatment or disposal.
Under the WDO, it is an offence for anyone to dispose of waste at public places. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. A maximum fine of $500,000 and six months’ imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions.
48 convictions were recorded in September 2017 for breaches of legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). Eight of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, four were under the Noise Control Ordinance, one was under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, 33 were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance, and two were under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
The heaviest fine in September was $70,000, assessed against a company for failing to comply with the requirements of a noise abatement notice.
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