Three persons and company fined for illegal waste disposal involving use of vehicles

     Three persons and a company involved in five cases of illegal waste disposal with the use of vehicles were convicted and fined a total of $13,500 at Fanling and Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (August 6) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation. In addition to the above cases, 19 other cases of the same kind are scheduled for hearings in Magistrates' Courts in different districts.

     In January and February, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) traced five cases of illegal waste disposal on Lok Shan Road in To Kwa Wan, at a car park in Sha Kok Mei in Sai Kung and on Tsing Sheung Road in Tsing Yi based on reports from members of the public and videos recorded by the department's surveillance camera systems. After collecting evidence, the department brought two vehicle owners, a driver and a company involved in the cases to justice. The waste deposited included wooden boards, pieces of glass and furniture. The waste deposited not only caused obstruction to passages, but also caused environmental hygiene problems. One of the vehicle owners was recorded illegally disposing of waste two times in several days by the department's surveillance camera systems. The vehicle owner was convicted and fined a total of $6,000 by the court on the same day for the aforementioned offences.

     An EPD spokesman reminded all practitioners of the renovation, construction and transportation sectors, including persons-in-charge of construction sites, workers and drivers as well as owners of goods vehicles, that they must properly deliver construction waste and commercial as well as industrial waste to the 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, offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment on first conviction. A maximum fine of $500,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on subsequent conviction. According to the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, it is an offence to dispose of waste on the streets or in public places from vehicles, including goods vehicles, private cars and motorcycles. The registered owners concerned may be prosecuted. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment on first conviction.

     The spokesman said the department has installed round-the-clock intelligent surveillance camera systems at illegal waste disposal black spots in different districts. The spokesman also urged members of the public to make a report to the department if they witness anyone illegally disposing of waste in other places. They can record videos or take photos and call the EPD hotline at 2838 3111 with a view to extending to all the deterrent message of "Stop illegal dumping. Someone is watching".