Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap.

354)
Guidelines for Application of Waste Disposal Licence
for Glass Container Waste

These guidelines elaborate on the key requirements and documents to be submitted

for the application for a Waste Disposal Licence for glass container waste (glass-WDL)
under Waste Disposal Ordinance, Cap. 354 (WDO). Please read carefully before
making an application.

Important Notes:
 The issuance of the glass-WDL does not in any way exempt the licensee from the
obligations of complying with the provisions of any other enactments, or indemnify
him against the consequences of any breach of any laws of Hong Kong or relevant
requirements of government departments.
 For the avoidance of doubt, any person issued with a glass-WDL will not
necessarily be granted the permit for import or export of waste, or any other
registration/approval/licences/permits/agreements required by the Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) and/or other government departments.

Why do I need to have a glass-WDL?

2. According to section 16 of WDO, any person who uses any land or premises for
disposal (storage, treatment, reprocessing and recycling) of any glass container
waste1 must first obtain a glass-WDL.

Are there any exemptions to the glass-WDL requirements?

3. The glass-WDL requirement is not applicable in the following circumstances:

(a) storage of glass container waste on premises located inside a multi-storey

building;
(b) storage of glass container waste with a total volume of not exceeding 50 m3;
or
(c) facility that is capable of treating, reprocessing or recycling not more than one

1
Glass container waste is defined to mean a container (whether damaged or not) that, (a) judging by its
appearance, is a glass container whether in the form of a bottle, jar or otherwise as specified in column
3 of Part 2 of Schedule 8 to the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap. 603); and (b) has been
abandoned.

p. 1 of 12
 tonne of glass container waste per day.

Who may apply for a glass-WDL?

4. The applicant shall be the owner or the lawful occupier of the land or premises
used for conducting the waste disposal operation.

How long will a glass-WDL be valid and what are the key requirements?

5. In general, glass-WDL is normally valid up to three years.

6. Facility for disposal of glass container waste in Hong Kong shall be operated in
compliance with the environmental legislations including:

 Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311);

 Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354);
 Water Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 358); and
 Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400).

7. The owner, occupier and/or operator of the facility shall consult relevant
government departments (such as the Planning Department, Buildings Department and
Fire Services Department) for various aspects such as land use, town planning, building
and fire safety, etc and seek for their respective approval, as the case may be. The
applicant should make sure that the uses and developments on the land or premises
concerned comply with the requirements of relevant legislations.

8. The facility shall be operated in an environmentally safe and acceptable manner.

The glass container waste shall be treated within six months upon receipt by the facility
and before exceeding the maximum glass container waste storage capacity of the
facility unless prior approval for extending the treatment period has been obtained from
the EPD. The operation shall make sure the recycled glass materials produced can
satisfy the technical specifications for reuse or recycling in subsequent manufacturing
processes. EPD may impose a requirement of attaining a recycling rate to reduce
potential pollution nuisance and disposal burden to the local environment.

9. The areas used for the storage, handling, treatment and disposal of glass container
waste, the storage of glass sand/cullet, other processed glass materials, rejected
materials, residues and by-products (e.g. non-glass recyclable materials, non-recyclable

p. 2 of 12
waste), and the handling and washing of glass container recycling bins shall be paved
with impermeable floor made of suitable material, such as concrete, to avoid land
contamination.

10. The mechanical plant, machinery, equipment and treatment processes in

connection with the treatment, reprocessing and recycling operation of glass container
waste shall be installed with enclosure or other effective means to avoid generation of
excessive noise and dust where necessary.

11. Suitable drainage or flood prevention structure shall be installed to prevent

discharge of large quantity of pollutants due to flooding of the site, buildings and
operations therein. Surface runoff interceptor and/or sedimentation tank shall be
installed to capture the first flush and/or surface runoff and/or wash water of the areas
used for (i) the storage, handling, treatment and disposal of glass container waste, and
(ii) the storage of glass sand/cullet, other processed glass materials, rejected materials,
residues and by-products, for either local treatment or off-site treatment/disposal.
With respect to area for handling and washing of glass container recycling bins, a
collection and treatment system (either local treatment or off-site treatment/disposal)
shall be in place to collect and treat wastewater generated therein.

What are the documents required to be submitted together with the glass-WDL
application form?

12. The applicant has to attach the following documents to a duly completed
application form:

 Proof showing that the applicant is the owner or lawful occupier of the waste
disposal site (please refer to Annex 1 for details);
 Copy of the Business Registration Certificate and Certificate of Incorporation
if the applicant is a limited company or copy of documentary proof of being
registered under the laws of Hong Kong, or copy of Hong Kong identity card2
(or provision of his/her Hong Kong identity card in person for checking at an
EPD regional office)/non-resident travel document if the business is run by a
partnership or sole proprietorship;
 Authorisation letter showing that the person signing the declaration in the

2
The copy of Hong Kong identity card / non-resident travel document will be properly discarded upon
completion of licensing work.

p. 3 of 12
 application form is authorised by the company or the organisation to make
such declaration (if the applicant is a limited company or an organisation);
 Method statement providing the details of operation covering reception,
storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling of glass container waste, its
handling of treated glass materials, rejected materials, residues and by-
products as well as environmental pollution control;
 Facility location plan showing the boundary of the facility, its surrounding
land uses, the major access roads of the facility and any sensitive receivers
nearby;
 Facility layout plan showing different areas of the facility (including the areas
for the reception, storage, treatment, recycling or disposal of glass container
waste, and the areas for storage of any products, rejected materials, by-
products and residues), with all major structures, entrances, exits,
installations and equipment within the premises, the material(s) used for
paving the floor annotated, the pollution control installations and equipment,
surface runoff interceptor, sedimentation tank, on-site effluent treatment
facility, discharge points of treated effluent inside the premises, if any;
 Schematic flow diagram showing the operating procedures of the processes
involving reception, storage, treatment, reprocessing or recycling of glass
container waste in the facility, and indicating the function of each process and
the mechanical equipment and installations used;
 Organisation chart showing the key management staff; and
 Copy of liability insurance.

How to submit a glass-WDL application and the application fee?

13. New or renewal applications should be made by means of the application form
(Form EPD-319) which is downloadable from EPD website. The duly completed
application form together with the required supporting documents could be submitted
electronically at the Environmental Protection Interactive Centre website under EPD
(https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/epic/english/epichome.html) or to any of the EPD
regional offices, as appended to this document, by post or by hand (during office hours).
EPD reserves the right to request the submission of true copy of the documents by post
or hand where necessary.

14. The application fees for a new licence and a renewed one are HK$29,820 and
HK$14,840 respectively. The application should be accompanied by the application fee
which is non-refundable. The payment should be made according to the instructions

p. 4 of 12
as stipulated on the Demand Note issued by EPD.

15. You may complete the application form by typing or writing with black or blue
ink. If there is insufficient space in any column to fill in all the information, you may
use separate sheet(s) of paper, which are numbered and duly signed by the applicant.

16. For the declaration in Section 7 of the application form, if the applicant is a sole
proprietor, it must be filled by the individual who applies for a glass-WDL. In the
case of a limited company or an organisation, this part must be filled by a person
authorised by the limited company or the organisation, as the case may be. If it is a
partnership business, it shall be filled by one of the partners. Documentary proof of
authorisation is required unless the applicant is a sole proprietor.

When to submit a glass-WDL application?

17. You are advised to submit your application as soon as you assess that you can
fulfill the requirements and when your supporting documents are ready. The approval
time required for each case varies, which depends on the complexity of the operation,
the sufficiency of information submitted, capability of meeting the licensing
requirements, and completion of necessary revisions and upgrading works. After
receiving an application, the EPD will follow up the details of the information,
documents and contents of the application as soon as possible, so as to facilitate the
applicant to make supplement, clarification and response. If applicants can positively
address the views and requirements on the application from the EPD, it would also help
to shorten the approval time.

18. For a renewal application, it is recommended to be made not less than four months
prior to expiry of the existing licence.

What will be considered in the processing of the applications?

19. In processing the licence application, EPD will consider the information
submitted by the applicant and carry out site visit(s). For each licence application in
deciding whether to grant the licence, or if there is a need to include additional terms
and conditions, EPD will assess the following:
a. Whether the disposal operation will be able to achieve all the limits, requirements,
quality standards and quality objectives prescribed in
 Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311);

p. 5 of 12
  Water Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 358);
 Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400).
b. Whether any emission or discharge from the disposal operation will be likely to
be a danger to public health, a source of pollution to the environment or a source
of nuisance to the neighbouring area;
c. Whether the facility has the capacity to dispose of such maximum quantity of glass
container waste stated in the application; and
d. Whether the facility is capable of disposing of glass container waste in the manner
stated in the application.

What are the penalties for noncompliance related to disposal of glass container
waste?

20. The key offences and maximum penalties related to disposal of glass container
waste are as summarized below.

Section of WDO and Offence Maximum penalty

3
 s 16 - Dispose glass  A fine of HK$200,000 and 6-month
container waste without a imprisonment for the first offence
glass-WDL  A fine of HK$500,000 and 6-month
imprisonment for the subsequent offence
 A daily fine of HK$10,000 for a
continuing offence
 s 23(8)4 – Contravene any  A fine of HK$200,000 and 6-month
term and condition of a glass- imprisonment for the first offence
WDL  A fine of HK$500,000 and 6-month
imprisonment for the subsequent offence
 A daily fine of HK$10,000 for a
continuing offence

3
A person shall not use or permit to be used, any land or premises for the disposal of waste unless he
has a licence from the Director to use the land or premises for that purpose.
4
If any person who has been granted a waste collection licence or waste disposal licence (as the case
may be) contravenes any term or condition subject to which the licence was granted to him, he
commits an offence and is liable
(b) in the case of a waste disposal licence –
i. for the first offence, to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for 6 months;
ii. for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine of $500,000 and to imprisonment for 6
months; and
iii. in addition, if the offence is a continuing offence to a fine of $10,000 for each day during
which it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the offence has continued.

p. 6 of 12
Environmental Compliance Division
Environmental Protection Department
January 2023

p. 7 of 12
For enquiries

Please contact the following EPD offices on glass-WDL:

EPD Offices/Addresses Responsible Area Contact information

Regional Office (East) Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Tel: 2755 5518
Sin, Sai Kung, Tseung Fax: 2756 8588
5/F., Nan Fung Kwan O, Yau Tsim E-mail: [email protected]
Commercial Centre, 19 Mong & Kowloon City
Lam Lok Street,
Kowloon Bay, Kowloon.
Regional Office (North) Yuen Long, Shatin, Tai Tel: 2158 5757
Po & North Fax: 2685 1133
10/F., Sha Tin E-mail: [email protected]
Government Offices,
No.1 Sheung Wo Che
Road, Sha Tin, New
Territories.
Regional Office (South) Hong Kong Island & Tel: 2516 1718
Islands Fax: 2960 1760
2/F., Chinachem E-mail: [email protected]
Exchange Square, 1 Hoi
Wan Street, Quarry Bay,
Hong Kong.
Regional Office (West) Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Tel: 2417 6116
Kwai Tsing, Cheung Fax: 2411 3073
8/F., Tsuen Wan Sha Wan & Sham Shui E-mail: [email protected]
Government Offices, 38 Po
Sai Lau Kok Road, Tsuen
Wan, New Territories.
Customer Service General licensing Tel: 2838 3111
Hotline requirements Fax: 2305 0453
E-mail: [email protected]

p. 8 of 12
 Annex 1

Requirements on Proof of Lawful Occupation of the Waste Disposal Site

1. In submitting an application for a glass-WDL, if the applicant is not the current

owner(s), the applicant must demonstrate its lawful occupation to the application
site and the documentary proof include:
 Statement of consent signed by all current owners; or
 Duly stamped lease agreement signed by all current owners;

2. In case the documentary proof provided by the applicant cannot fully fulfill the
abovementioned requirements (e.g. statement of consent or stamped lease
agreement only signed by some current owners), the applicant must show that
reasonable steps have been taken to give the owner’s notification and obtain the
owner’s consent:
A. To send a request for consent to each and every current owner. Relevant
evidence (e.g. records of registered mail) should be submitted together with
the application; or
B. If the applicant is unable to contact the current owner(s) due to the absence /
inadequacy of the relevant information, e.g. absence of or incomplete postal
address of the current owner in the Land Registry record, the applicant may
consider resorting to the following steps:
i. To publish a notice of the application once in one Chinese and one English
local newspapers. The newspaper notice should be in the size of not smaller
than 30 square centimetres (five square inches). A sample format of the
newspaper notice is shown in Annex 2. The newspaper notice should be
published in the local newspapers specified by EPD; and

ii(a). Either to post a notice of the application in a prominent position on or

near the application site. The notice should be at least A4 size and legible from
a public place (a sample format is shown in Annex 3); or

ii(b). To send a notice to the Owners’ Corporation(s), Owners’ Committee(s),

Mutual Aid Committee(s) or management office(s), where applicable, of the
building(s) erected on the application site or in which the application premises
is located or, where appropriate, to the relevant Rural Committee. Relevant
evidence (e.g. records of registered mail) should be submitted together with
the application (a sample format is shown in Annex 3).

p. 9 of 12
 iii. For the notice mentioned in above Bi and Bii, it should allow comments or
objections from the owner(s) concerned within 40 days for new application
and within 30 days for renewal application after the notice is published.

3. The EPD will take into account the particulars provided in the application and
determine whether the steps taken by the applicant are acceptable on a case-by-case
basis.

p. 10 of 12
 Annex 2

WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE (Cap 354)

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR

A WASTE DISPOSAL LICENCE FOR GLASS CONTAINER WASTE

Notice is hereby given to the owner(s) of the (location of the application site i.e. address
of the relevant lot / premises) that I/we intend to apply for a Waste Disposal Licence
under Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap 354) for storage, treatment, reprocessing and
recycling* of glass container waste at the abovementioned location. Any comments
regarding this applications should be made to the Environmental Protection Department
by post (respective regional office address), fax (respective regional office fax number)
or email ([email protected]) within 40 days of this notice.

(The proposed use / development and major development parameters such as site area
and the proposed plot ratio gross floor area / site coverage / building height etc. should
be indicated in the notice.)

(Name of the applicant)

(Date of notification)

*delete where appropriate

p. 11 of 12
 Annex 3

WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE (Cap 354)

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR

A WASTE DISPOSAL LICENCE FOR GLASS CONTAINER WASTE

Notice is hereby given to the owner(s) of the (location of the application site i.e. address
of the relevant lot / premises) that I/we intend to apply for a Waste Disposal Licence
under Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap 354) for storage, treatment, reprocessing and
recycling* of glass container waste at the abovementioned location. Any comments
regarding this applications should be made to the Environmental Protection Department
by post (respective regional office address), fax (respective regional office fax number)
or email ([email protected]) within 40 days of this notice.

(The proposed use / development and major development parameters such as site area
and the proposed plot ratio gross floor area / site coverage / building height etc. should
be indicated in the notice.)

Please post this notice on the notice board of your building / office*, or other
conspicuous place as you think fit, to inform the owners about this application.#

(Name of the applicant)

(Date of notification)

*delete where appropriate

# not applicable for notice to be posted on site by the applicant

p. 12 of 12