Environment | Heavier fines for wastewater treatment plant emissions

The Executive Council announced stricter scrutiny measures for wastewater treatment plants, suggesting companies file summary reports with the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) every six months regarding the status of their emissions standards.

According to Leong Heng Teng, the Executive Council spokesman, operators will face heavier fines if they fail to do so.

“The operator must submit a report showing that they are abiding by the government’s standards regarding air pollutant emissions of wastewater treatment plants,” Leong said on Friday, as cited in a TDM report.

“We have also set a heavier penalty so that the operator will be liable for a fine between MOP200,000 and MOP300,000 if they violate the emissions standards.”

The DSPA has commissioned an advisory company with defining the new emissions standards but did not disclose the company’s name.

There are currently five wastewater treatment plants and facilities in the city.

Additionally, the Executive Council announced amendments to the city’s noise control law, which is aimed at controlling excessive noise after 10 p.m.

The amendment suggests that a waiver be put in place for emergency situations, such as garbage collection during typhoon season and for Light Rapid Transit System maintenance.

Ip Kwong Lam, acting director of the DSPA, said, “We’re not making an exception for the noise made by the LRT when it runs during the day, but rather for the maintenance work on the LRT as it can only be carried out at night.”

“Also a large amount of waste has piled up during the typhoons before and it’s inevitable that it has to be cleared out at night. Considering this […] a penalty waiver will be granted for clearing and collecting street garbage,” Ip added.