Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ7: Keeping refuse collection vehicles in good hygiene condition
Following is a question by the Hon Albert Cheng Jinghan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (October 25):
Question:
It is learnt that some refuse collection vehicles running on the road are filthy
and stink with foul water dripping, becoming an eyesore to the public and
affecting environmental hygiene. In this connection, will the Government inform
this Council whether:
(a) the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, private contractors and
private cleansing service providers are required to keep their refuse collection
vehicles in good hygiene condition; if so, of the penalties which may be imposed
on the parties concerned for the situation mentioned above;
(b) prosecutions have been instituted in the past three years for the above
situation; if so, of the number of prosecutions instituted; and
(c) it will consider making it a mandatory requirement for the parties concerned
to cleanse their refuse collection vehicles regularly, as well as providing
car-wash facilities at landfills to offer refuse collection vehicles cleansing
service at a charge determined on the cost-recovery basis?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has established
guidelines and contract provisions to ensure that the refuse collection vehicles
(RCVs) of both the Department and its contractors are kept in a clean and
hygienic condition. Moreover, to prevent leachate from soiling the streets when
the RCVs are in motion, sump tanks are installed in all these RCVs to trap
leachate from the refuse collected.
FEHD's guidelines to its drivers stipulate that all RCVs, after disposal of
refuse at transfer stations or landfills, should be cleansed by on-site vehicle
washing machine and with the sump tanks emptied before leaving the site. To
ensure that these guidelines are observed, FEHD's supervisory staff conducts
surprise inspections at transfer stations and landfills. Furthermore, drivers
have to arrange for the RCVs to be washed when they return to depots at the end
of each working day. Particular attention will be given to the leak-proofing
device of the RCVs during regular examination and maintenance, to reduce the
chances of environmental pollution.
As for the RCVs of FEHD contractors, there are provisions in the contract to
require the contractors to keep their RCVs clean and to wash the vehicles at the
end of each working day. In the course of monitoring the services rendered by
the contractors, if FEHD detects any unsatisfactory service or breach of
contract provisions, it will take appropriate punitive actions against the
contractors in accordance with the relevant contract provisions.
For soiling of streets by any waste (including leachate, mud, etc.) by any
vehicles (including RCVs operated by private cleansing companies), FEHD may
initiate prosecution against the registered owners or any persons concerned
under Section 9 of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation
(Cap. 132BK). Any person who contravenes the legislation is liable to a maximum
fine of $25,000 and imprisonment of six months upon conviction.
(b) In the past three years, FEHD has initiated 321 prosecutions under Section 9
of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132BK) for
soiling of streets by waste from vehicles. Of these, more than 30 cases are in
connection with RCVs.
(c) In waste disposal facilities managed by the Environmental Protection
Department, such as refuse transfer stations and landfills, there is established
vehicle washing arrangement as part of the operating procedures. After unloading
their refuse cargo, RCVs need to go through the vehicle washing system to have
their vehicle bodies/wheels washed before leaving the facility premises, to
minimise their impact on the surrounding environment.
Ends/Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:25
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