Replies to Questions from Finance Committee Members

Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04 Reply Serial No.
CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO
INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION
ETWB(E)048
Head : 44 Environmental Protection Department Subhead(No. & title): 297
Fees for operation of waste
facilities
Programme : (1) Waste Facilities
Controlling Officer : Director of Environmental Protection
Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
Question Serial No.
Question : Would the Government inform this Council:
The list of expenditure items for respective types of waste facilities under Subhead 297. Please also list out
the unit handling cost of various waste facilities (including the content and breakdown). Are these costs
recovered from the fees collected?
Asked by : Hon. CHOY So-yuk
Reply : The estimated expenditure in 2003-04 and unit operating cost of various waste facilities are as follows:
Waste Facilities
Estimated
Expenditure
2003-04
$M
0054
Estimated
Unit Operating
Cost per tonne
$
Chemical Waste Treatment Centre 388 7 056 (Note 1)
Refuse Transfer Stations 391 184
Landfills 439 64
Livestock Waste Collection and Composting Service 11 200
Total 1 229
Note 1: The unit operating costs vary with different types of treatment at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre.
The unit operating cost quoted here is the average obtained by dividing the total operating cost by the
total amount of chemical wastes treated during the same period.
At present, only privately collected waste at refuse transfer stations and chemical waste treated at the Chemical
Waste Treatment Centre are charged. However, the above operating costs are not fully recovered from the fees
collected for refuse transfer or chemical waste treatment.
Gototop
Signature
Name in block letters ROBERT J. S. LAW
Post Title Director of Environmental Protection
Date 20 March 2003