Disposal of solid waste at landfills in Hong Kong 2022, by category

In 2022, the average daily domestic waste sent to landfills in Hong Kong surpassed 6,700 metric tons. Commercial, industrial waste, and overall construction waste accounted for over 4,000 metric tons per day. As one of the most densely populated regions in the world, waste management poses a challenge to city planners and sanitation authorities alike.

The landfill situation

Disposing of waste in landfills has been the preferred method since the 1960s, but with limited available territory, it is not a sustainable practice. The city has 7.5 million inhabitants who produce around 16 metric tons of waste every day, which is disposed of at one of the three active landfills in the region. Since the 1960s, the local government has operated 16 landfills. However, because of the limited landmass, the local government wants to tackle the waste issue by incentivizing its citizens to reduce waste, building integrated waste management facilities, and restoring old landfills.

Restoring landfills

Converting old landfills into recreational areas is part of Hong Kong’s strategy for dealing with retired landfills. Out of the territories 16 landfills, 13 have reached their maximum capacity and have been closed and undergone a restoration process. Because landfills contain toxic materials, they must undergo careful treatment to reduce the environmental risks. For instance, the landfills are closed off with a geotextile polyethylene layer, and systems are installed to manage the gas and leachate. In the final step, the city installed various recreational facilities, including baseball fields, golf courses, and playgrounds on those grounds.