​The responsible persons of two recycling sites in Ping Che in North District and Shek Wu Wai in Yuen Long, who illegally stored hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), were convicted and fined a total of $50,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 18) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that during operations in January and March, EPD officers raided two recycling sites that illegally stored printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are classified as chemical waste. The recycling sites were located in Ping Che in North District and Shek Wu Wai in Yuen Long and used to collect, store, dismantle, import and export hazardous e-waste. The recycling sites concerned illegally stored PCBs at the open spaces with some PCBs chaotically scattered on the ground. A total of 2.5 tonnes of PCBs were found during the two operations with a total market value of $250,000. Upon investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the recycling sites' responsible persons in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
The spokesman stressed that dismantled or destroyed PCBs, LCD monitors and cathode ray tubes are hazardous e-waste, containing heavy metals and other toxic substances. They are classified as chemical waste. Chemical waste is hazardous by nature and, if not properly controlled, will pollute the environment and pose a risk to the health of relevant trade practitioners and the general public. The EPD has all along been committed to combating the illegal collection, storage, handling and import and export activities of hazardous e-waste. Anyone who violates the above laws shall be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment for the first conviction. For subsequent offences, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and two years' imprisonment.
For more information about the control of chemical waste, please visit the EPD's website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_cwc.html.
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