​The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 24) said that two recycling sites in Yuen Long and North District, which illegally handled hazardous electronic waste (e-waste), were raided during an inter-departmental blitz enforcement operation in January this year. The companies concerned, Sam Tung International Trading Company Limited and Zhonglianxing (HK) Limited and its responsible person, were convicted and fined a total of $51,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on July 17 and today respectively for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO) and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
An EPD spokesman said that a blitz operation was jointly conducted with the Police at various open recycling sites at Shan Ha Tsuen in Yuen Long and Ma Tso Lung in North District in January. It was found that two recycling sites, operated by Sam Tung International Trading Company Limited and Zhonglianxing (HK) Limited, illegally stored waste printed circuit boards (PCBs), which are classified as chemical waste. The PCBs concerned weighed about 12 tonnes and had a total market value of over $1.2 million. After investigation and evidence gathering, the EPD prosecuted the operating companies and the responsible person of the recycling sites 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 and are regulated under the existing laws on chemical waste disposal. The EPD is 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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