[iMail, November 27, 2001] THE government will offer a $1 billion contract to the private company that can provide the most effective waste disposal scheme, it was revealed yesterday.

Secretary for Environment and Food Lily Yam said the government would soon invite companies to propose an environmentally friendly waste disposal scheme.

It is understood a number of overseas and local companies, including Cheung Kong (Holdings), Pacific Waste Management and Vivendi Environment will compete for the contract.


Yam said landfill zones would reach capacity within 10 years and new techniques were necessary to tackle the growing amount of waste being churned out in the territory.

`The government is totally open to ideas ... and we will take the proposal which is most suitable for Hong Kong. `On average, waste production has been growing faster than the population,' she said, adding that more than 6.5 million tonnes of waste were buried in landfills each year.

Yam said waste production grew by an average 3.5 per cent annually and population grew by only 0.9 per cent. A large amount of waste was construction material.

`We think construction waste material should be recycled,' she said.

The bureau has proposed building large-scale waste-to-energy incinerators with a capacity to treat two million tonnes of waste a year in Lung Kwu Tang, Tuen Mun.

Public support was vital in dealing with waste, she said, adding: `Some people do not understand the seriousness of the problem.'

Yam admitted the time was not right to impose a waste disposal levy, but hinted the plan may be revived when the economy recovers.

'That will be the time to test Hong Kong people's awareness of environmental protection,' she said.