The Environmental Protection Department is investigating the suspected illegal storage of large amounts of chemical waste at four recycling sites in North District and Yuen Long.
The waste comprises waste 8,000 LCDs with an export value of $1.2 million, and also includes cathode ray tubes and lead-acid batteries.
The Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation regulate recycling sites collecting, storing, dismantling, disposing of or importing and exporting large quantities of waste LCD monitors containing heavy metals and toxic organic compounds that can cause pollution or constitute health hazards.
Anyone who collects, stores, disposes of, imports or exports chemical waste must apply for a permit from the Environment Protection Department, but no such approval has been obtained for the four sites in question.
The department has taken water and soil samples in nearby areas to see if the running of these sites has affected the environment.
The Planning Department is checking whether land use regulations have been breached.
The Fire Services Department has reminded the people supervising and working at the sites about fire safety requirements.
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