Feasibility study of waste to energy (WTE) facilities in Hong Kong

Abstract

Waste to energy (WTE) has been used in some Asian and European countries for decades. It has been re-considered in Hong Kong to solve the landfill space shortage problem since 2000. The consideration was planned for over 10 years but still has not been implemented due to political and social problem. Due to all landfills will be reaching their designated capacity before 2020, there is urgent need to explore other means of disposal.

Based on international experience in this study, three technologies are identified to have high potentials, moving grate incineration, anaerobic digestion and plasma gasification. Although moving grate incineration are the most widely used as core technology for large scale plant, anaerobic digestion and plasma gasification are more socially acceptable due to its technological difference. Plasma gasification is a newer technology on waste treatment that the government should explore on the integrated waste management facilities project.

The use of all technology variants will cause certain social impacts, and the best use of the facilities affects the benefit to society and influences the public’s view. In the study, the IWMF and OWTF are generally support by the public, but the public’s views are dispersed. Currently the public concerns about the site selection and health & safety problem of both government plan, and required the improvement of recycling and source separation system. Also public are lacking the knowledge of waste management option that Hong Kong could take to solve the waste problem, indicating the need of better government-general public communication mechanism.

The government has to do better planning for the use of WTE and engage the public on different level to minimise the social opposition voice in order to proceed with the WTE plan. Policy to gain public support and remove obstacle from private sector are the major works required instead of pure technical report on the choice of WTE facilities as the government has done in the last decade.