Two companies and three persons involved in five cases of illegal waste disposal in Southern District, Kwai Chung and Yuen Long were convicted and fined a total of $31,000 at Eastern and Fanling Magistrates' Courts yesterday (August 12) and today (August 13) respectively for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has been striving to combat illegal waste disposal activities across the territory on all fronts through various channels, including reports from members of the public, surveillance camera systems installed by the department and proactive blitz operations. From January to April this year, the EPD successfully traced by the above channels the offenders or companies involved in five illegal dumping cases that occurred on Chung Hom Kok Road and Pak Pat Shan Road in Southern District, Tai Lin Pai Road in Kwai Chung, and Kam Ho Road and Kam Pok Road East in Yuen Long. The persons and companies involved included a construction site foreman, an employer, an engineering company and a registered vehicle owner. The deposited waste, which included mud and concrete debris, a wooden waste crate and bamboo sticks, not only created obstructions in passages but also caused environmental hygiene problems.
A spokesman for the EPD reminded all members of the renovation, construction and transportation sectors that they must properly deliver commercial, industrial and construction waste to government waste management facilities in accordance with the law. It is unlawful to dispose of waste in public places and on the roadside. Under the WDO, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. According to the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, it is an offense to dispose of waste on streets or in public places from vehicles, including goods vehicles, private cars and motorcycles. The registered owner may be prosecuted. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment.
The spokesman urged members of the public, including the staff of building management companies, to make reports to the department if they witness any illegal disposal of waste. They can record videos or take photos and call the EPD hotline at 2838 3111.
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