Green fun: Secretary for Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao officiates at the opening ceremony of Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground.

The existing three strategic landfills will be filled up in seven to 11 years in view of the current waste-generation rate, Secretary for Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao said, adding that the Government will consult the public on waste treatment technologies that can meet the sustainable waste management principle.

Officiating at the opening ceremony of Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground today, Dr Liao said it is difficult to find suitable locations for building new landfills.

For waste that cannot be recycled, new technologies for processing and disposal, in addition to landfilling, have to be explored.

Polluters should pay

"On the point of polluter pays, that means paying for solid waste disposal, I think there is general acceptance by the public that they should pay for the waste they generate.

"However, we should also be fair to those who are ready to recycle and reuse (the waste) with the process the Government can provide. They should pay less. And those who refuse to help reduce waste will have to pay more," Dr Liao said.

She urged the public to reduce, reuse and recycle waste so as to minimise the amount of waste that required disposal.

1st recreational facility on restored landfill opens

The Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground, which was opened today, is the first permanent recreational facility built on a restored landfill in Hong Kong.

Apart from providing the first standard baseball field in Hong Kong, the venue also has other recreational facilities and a number of green features.

Located on Sin Fat Road near Lam Tin MTR Station, the recreation ground was built on the restored Sai Tso Wan Landfill with an area of 2.7 hectares.

It has a multi-purpose grass pitch for soccer and baseball, two batting cages for practising baseball, a children's play area, a jogging track and ancillary facilities.

The grass pitch provides a standard baseball field for the National Squad training of the Hong Kong Baseball Association.

Pollution control facilities installed

To ensure the site is safe for public use, pollution control facilities have been installed to prevent environmental pollution.