ALBA division awarded contract to build e-scrap facility in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has awarded ALBA Integrated Waste Solutions (ALBA IWS) Hong Kong Ltd. a contract to design, build and operate a waste electrical and electronic equipment treatment and recycling facility (WEEETRF) in Hong Kong. The deal was signed on May 8, 2015.

In remarks made at the signing ceremony, a spokesman for the EPD noted, "The WEEETRF is an essential facility in support of the new producer responsibility scheme (PRS) that is being progressively implemented to manage the e-waste generated from five types of regulated electrical and electronic equipment. To be equipped with relevant technologies for necessary detoxification, dismantling and recycling process, the WEEETRF will be capable of treating 30,000 metric tons of regulated e-waste annually, turning the waste into reusable raw materials such as plastic and metals."

To assist in the project, the Hong Kong government has earmarked about $550 million to build the facility, as well as provide the finances for the operating costs, which will be payable in accordance with the volume of e-waste collected and treated in the facility, which is estimated to be about $200 million a year.

ALBA-IWS, a joint venture between ALBA Asia Ltd., the German equipment company Erdwich Vertriebs GmbH and the Hong Kong company IWS Environmental Technologies, was awarded the contract following an open tender.

Following the commissioning of the plant, expected to occur next year, the plant is expected to increase its overall technology standard and handling capacity of the local recycling industries. The EPD says that, coupled with enhanced publicity and public education as well as other relevant measures under the new PRS, more people will participate in e-waste recycling, through which new opportunities may be created for local recycling industries.

In order to provide a statutory regulatory framework for the PRS, the Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Electrical Equipment and Electronic Equipment) (Amendment) Bill 2015 was introduced earlier this year and has been discussed by a bills committee. The bill proposes to include air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and television sets as well as computers and certain associated devices including printers, scanners and monitors (collectively referred to as regulated electrical equipment) in the PRS. Manufacturers and importers of regulated electrical equipment will be required to register as registered suppliers and pay a recycling fee for regulated electrical equipment that is distributed in Hong Kong. The Bill also proposes the following measures in relation to the collection, recycling and disposal of regulated e-waste:

A seller must arrange, after distribution of regulated electrical equipment, a removal service for consumers free of charge so that the old equipment can be delivered to a competent recycler;

• any person who is engaged in the storage, treatment, reprocessing and recycling of regulated e-waste must obtain a waste disposal license;
• a permit is required for the import and export of regulated e-waste; and
• regulated e-waste will no longer be accepted at landfills for disposal.