Feasibility Report Of Innovated Waste Collection And Treatment Project In San Po Kong

Introduction

Hong Kong has a significantly high amount of municipal waste. By now, the solid waste is handled by dumping to the landfill solely and it is revealed that currently Hong Kong people do not pertain a strong sense of waste recycling. Much recyclable trash, namely plastics, metals and paper, has been transported to the landfill and their residual values are not retrieved. In light of this, it is suggested implementing a trial scheme in San Po Kong to address the waste issue brought by the high population density and the commercial activities in the region. This trash treatment system aims to enhance trash recycling rate, by providing convenient means of garbage collection and establishing new mechanisms of garbage treatment. Two options are investigated and discussed in this feasibility report, and are compared in aspects of adaptability, efficiency, constructability, finance and environment.

Potential Options

2a Option 1: Intelligent garbage classification machine and refuse collection trucks (Surface garbage transportation facility) A garbage collection machine in mainland China This machine is a well-rounded garbage collection facility, which incorporates garbage classification, storage and compression. One can put garbage into the machine and it will be detected by the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and be classified into different categories, including plastic, metal, paper, glass or non-recyclables. The machine can also compress the rubbish by 10 to 20% of its size to raise its storage capacity. Sensors are installed in the machine to keep track of the volume occupied and relevant data are sent to the control centre. Once several nearby garbage collection points are going to reach their storage capacity, the control centre will send trucks accordingly to collect the garbage with a maximization of collection efficiency. Implication and impact: Originally, the garbage classification is undergone in the garbage classification plant.

However, lots of recyclables are directly disposed to landfills without classification or recycling, which leading to a loss of recycling efficiency. To resolve this problem, it is sensible to do auto-classification of trash when it is dumped. Moreover, the data collected by the sensors of machine can be used for long-term research, including people’s habits and preferences of garbage disposal. The government can leverage these data to set goal on waste reduction and monitor related policies.

Concern: This idea still follows the basic 4-staged workflow of garbage collection nowadays in Hong Kong - “dumped, stored until rubbish bin is occupied, collected by labour and transported by vehicles ”. Although the machine improves the classification and storage efficiency (stages 1 and 2), the needs of collection by labour work and transportation by vehicle (stages 3 and 4) still drag down the overall efficiency of waste treatment. Meanwhile, option 2 provides a solution to revolutionize the whole workflow.

2b Option 2: Installation of underground garbage suction system(Sub-ground garbage transportation facility) Underground trash suction system in Barcelona [6]In Barcelona, a large-scale underground suction system is employed to collect municipal waste. Suction pipes are installed near to the residential and commercial buildings. When rubbish is disposed into the rubbish bins, it will be stored in a chamber connected with a suction pipe. On a regular and planned frequency, the suction pump will be activated to transport the waste to a central waste treatment plant, where the rubbish will be recycled or disposed. The underground suction system requires an extensive level of underground space and construction work, which will be included in San Po Kong redevelopment project as a part of infrastructure.

Moreover, a central waste treatment plant is built to process the rubbish in the whole San Po Kong. With centralizing processing, the rubbish treatment is done with substantially improved efficiency. Implication and impact: Since the suction system directly connects the rubbish bins to the central treatment plant, the time required to transfer garbage is extraordinarily reduced (less than 1 minute). The system does not require any labour or vehicle for operations, which implies simplification and acceleration of collection workflow. On the other hand, there will be no refuse collection truck on the road, and thus the system curbs odor and visual disturbance to the San Po Kong citizens and enhances their quality of life. Concern: Nevertheless, this system requires a large amount of underground space and causes some engineering challenges, as there are many underground facilities in Hong Kong, such as water pipes, electric pipes and gas mains. The construction cost is tremendous and it may be over-budget.

Evaluation criteria: Criteria

Option 1 - Intelligent garbage classification machine and refuse collection trucks (Surface facility)

Option 2 - Installation of underground garbage suction system (Sub-ground facility)

Adaptability Higher

The locations of garbage machines can be easily re-arranged to adapt the changing needs of residents and stores.

Lower

Changing the locations of suction pipes is very difficult and costly.

Efficiency Less satisfactory

Labour work collection and vehicles are required, but providing garbage auto-classification

More satisfactory

Rapid transportation without labour or truck

Constructability Higher

Garbage machines can be readily manufactured and placed in San Po Kong area.

Lower

Construction is difficult from engineering perspectives. Underground space is highly limited.

Finance

Relatively lower construction and maintenance costs Relatively higher construction and maintenance costs, probably 100 times of option 1 or even moreEnvironment Producing odor like the traditional rubbish bins and garbage trucks. Odor is greatly weakened. No visual disturbance.

Conclusion

To select a more feasible solution for waste transportation and treatment in San Po Kong, several factors should be examined. Option 1 improves the prevailing waste collection method by auto-classification and compression to improve recycling efficiency and storage capacity respectively. Option 2 reforms the whole garbage collection workflow and shrinks the transportation time to a large extent. Option 2 has a higher overall collection efficiency and less environmental disruption to San Po Kong than option 1.

However, option 1 is apparently more cost-efficient, with a comparison on adaptability, constructability and financial factors. Especially for financial reasons, option 1 is much more attractive and feasible. If discussed in public engagement, it is believed that option 1 will received more support from different parties as less financial burden is imposed on society. Therefore, option 1 is more recommended in this feasibility report.

Other recommendations

It is suggested adoption of option 1, the garbage classification machines with refuse collection vehicles, in order to enhance the trash recycling rate in San Po Kong. To boost the efficiency of this project, artificial intelligence, such as big data analysis, can be employed to make the most of the relevant data collected from the sensors in the machine. Such data will be a good indicator to measure the effectiveness of the waste recycling movement. Before implementing this scheme, the government should carry out more promotion and educate the people about the use of garbage classification machine. In the long term, the government is also advised to collect feedbacks from San Po Kong’s people and further advance this project.