Proposed incinerator will meet latest EU emission standards

The thermal treatment technology to be adopted for Hong Kong's first integrated waste management facility for municipal solid waste (MSW) near Shek Kwu Chau has been subject to a lengthy and thorough review process covering, for example, advanced moving grate, gasification and plasma gasification. Advanced moving grate was chosen because it is still the mainstream waste treatment technology adopted worldwide for large-scale MSW treatment. It has merits on environmental performance, reliability, operation adaptability and cost effectiveness.

It is incorrect to say moving grate is outdated. It has had continuous enhancements over the years and is still regarded as very reliable and robust to fully meet the latest European Union emission standards, which are the highest standards for modern incinerators in the world. In fact, over 90 per cent of new thermal treatment plants commissioned since 2009 used moving grate technology, including new plants being built, such as in Copenhagen.

Hong Kong's facility will also adopt state-of-the-art, advanced systems such as the selective catalytic reaction system to further reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides.

We are fully aware of those plasma gasification plants referred to by Winn. These plants are still under commissioning, construction or yet to be built.

Compared to the treatment capacity of 3,000 MSW [tonnes] per day we are planning, the plasma gasification plants are still relatively small, with very limited performance track record.