Negative environmental impacts posed by landfills

Negative environmental impacts

1. Landfill site occupy countryside fragmentation of wildlife’ s habitats removal of vegetation

2. Water pollution leachate might flow into river nearby /

infiltrate into soil through seepage toxic chemicals cause ecological disaster

3. Basic facilities (treatment for leachate and chemicals)

pose threat to adjacent natural habitats dude appearance causes visual pollutionE.g. Three strategic landfills : North East New Territories Landfill (NENT)South East New Territories Landfill (SENT) West New Territories Landfill (WENT)

What is SSSI ? Site of Special Scientific Interest reference for gov. dept on scientific values of relevant sites ensure due consideration given to conservation when development proposed

Landfill site near to SSSIElection of sites of active conservation

conducted in 2003

Pak Nai scored 3.4 and ranked fourth

in term of level of biodiversity

(cf 3.58 of Hoi Ha3.66 of Sha Lo Tung

Case: extension of SENT in Tseung Kwan O Proposed alternative:

acquire 5 hectares of Clearwater Bay Country Park together with nearby reclaimed area

additional 17 million cubic m in capacity, 6 years operational period

Ecological threats: construction work may disturb local wildlife

-11 worth-preserving species recorded in relevant site include mammals, birds, reptiles and butterflies e.g. 普 通 伏 蝠 (Pipistrellus abramus) 、褐翅鴉鵑Common Coucal(Centropus sinensis) 、水 律 (Ptyas mucosus) 、柑橘鳳蝶 Swallowtail (Papilio- xuthus)…etc

How we treat the natural resource ?

Value of natural wildlife and landscape for us: Instrumental value – species’ existence benefits other

entity(e.g. human)• in HK: Sai Kung known as “backyard of HK”, valuable marine

ecosystem and habitats provide recreational, aesthetic to citizens• quite a few marshes and wetlands of important ecological

value could be found in NWNT and NENT (e.g. Yuen Long , Ting Kok, Lai Chi Wo)

provide great scientific value for scholars

Intrinsic value – species has value for its own sake

• Surging waste as population rise urgent need for source reduction