Opinion | Is waste incineration an interim measure or a permanent solution?

By Dr. Kevin Lau

Hong Kong accommodates three landfill sites, namely West New Territories in Tuen Mun, Northeast New Territories in Ta Kwu Ling, and Southeast New Territories in Tseung Kwan O. These landfills have been functioning since the 1990s and are currently nearing their capacity limits. However, despite this critical situation, the city continues to dispose of over 5 million metric tons of waste into these landfills annually, which glaringly contradicts the principles of sustainable development.

Last month, Mr. Tse Chin Wan, the Secretary for the Environment and Ecology, announced that Hong Kong has set a target to completely eliminate the use of landfills by 2035. As an alternative solution, the first waste incineration facility, situated on an artificial island off Shek Kwu Chau, is scheduled to begin operations next year, while a second facility is planned for Tuen Mun. The government's primary objective is to ensure that these incineration facilities possess adequate capacity to effectively manage the city's municipal waste by the year 2035.

Nevertheless, the question remains: is waste incineration genuinely the ultimate and all-encompassing solution for waste management in Hong Kong? It is worth noting that waste incineration is increasingly being regarded as an effective alternative to landfilling in many regions, not just in Hong Kong. Undeniably, waste incineration offers its own set of advantages. Not only does it enable the daily disposal of accumulating waste, but it also generates electricity through the combustion process, thereby reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuel-based power generation.

However, I harbor reservations regarding the unequivocal benefits of waste incineration.  It is widely acknowledged that plastics constitute a significant portion of our daily waste. Waste incineration is not as straightforward as igniting the waste and allowing it to dissipate into thin air. As we have experienced in our own kitchens, when fire comes into contact with the plastic handles of pots, it emits a noxious and detrimental odor that poses risks to our well-being. Consequently, it becomes evident that the higher the proportion of plastic in the incinerated waste, the greater the adverse impact on both our health and the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, the establishment of incineration facilities necessitates the identification of appropriate locations. In a city like Hong Kong, where land availability is scarce, the task of finding suitable sites for such facilities becomes extremely challenging, unlike the vast and unpopulated areas found in the Taklamakan Desert. Put simply, regardless of the chosen location for an incineration facility, residents living nearby will inevitably face issues such as air pollution, odors, noise, increased traffic due to waste transportation, and the presence of additional waste. Consequently, waste incineration can only be regarded as a partial solution at best, and there are still significant aspects that merit thorough discussion and further exploration.

The author is a specialist in radiology with a Master of Public Health from the University of Hong Kong, and an adviser of Our Hong Kong Foundation.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.