The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today clarified that allegations of incinerator design defects and the collapse of an incineration module under construction at Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 (I.PARK1) arose following a fire on Monday.

Noting that such rumours are circulating online, the department stated in the strongest terms that the allegations are groundless and entirely fictitious, and urged the public not to be misled by these false messages and to stop sharing them.

The department said preliminary information indicates that the fire originated at the roof of the incinerator building's third incineration module area where finishing work was still in progress. It is preliminarily suspected that the fire originated from construction materials, rather than from incinerator operations or from the waste stored.

It will work with the Police, the Fire Services Department and the Labour Department to investigate the cause of the fire, and has instructed the contractor to submit an incident report on the fire within seven days of the incident.

Meanwhile, the EPD is evaluating the damage and its impact on the facility and its processing capacity, and will urge the contractor to carry out repairs as soon as possible.

I.PARK1 has temporarily suspended waste reception since yesterday. The EPD has arranged to extend the operating hours of its West New Territories Landfill Extension. The waste originally destined for I.PARK1 has therefore been transported to the landfill for disposal to maintain the normal operation of the city's overall waste management system.

The department stated that it will resume waste reception at I.PARK1 as soon as possible, after a comprehensive examination of the facility's structure and all critical systems, and upon confirming that it is safe to restart operations.