New Territories: Wasteshed Development in Rock Caverns

Authors. LAU Ching Chi, WONG Cheuk Lun Felix, YUEN Tsz Fung John

In a foodshed, we grow food. In a watershed, we collect water. Does it mean we produce waste from a wasteshed? No, we harvest waste to its full potential.

This project aims to address the waste issue in the region of New Territories where waste treatment has been a constant nuisance to the neighbourhoods. It begins by identifying the limitations of the existing waste treatment facilities, such as the limited land supply for expansion and lack of recycling infrastructure in Hong Kong. Then, it proceeds to assess possible locations for the rock cavern by taking account of the acquirable land and connection to the existing infrastructure. The development of a wasteshed, a place where waste is harvested, is proposed to be the potential solution to the pressing waste issue. This concept is illustrated in the poster and analysed in detail in a separate article.

The wasteshed takes in sewage and solid waste as resources to generate useful outputs such as methane, soil amendment, and recyclable

materials, and thereby achieving waste reuse and recovery while reducing the amount of waste to be disposed of in the landfill. It demonstrates an efficient use of land through the vertical compaction of two treatment facilities that will interact and facilitate the operation of each other. Also, it offers the necessary infrastructure for boosting the recycling industry in Hong Kong. This is especially important as recycling is regarded as a key component of modern waste reduction. The development of a wasteshed is a new concept of sustainable waste management dedicated to the long-term mitigation of the growing waste issue in Hong Kong.