Strengthening Regulation of Recycling of Waste Cooking Oils
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This document proposes strengthening regulations for the recycling of waste cooking oils (WCO) generated by restaurants and food factories in Hong Kong. It suggests introducing licenses for WCO collection, disposal, and import/export. Operators without licenses would face fines or imprisonment. It also proposes that restaurants and food factories be required to hand over their WCO only to licensed collectors and keep transaction records. The Environmental Protection Department will implement a voluntary registration system for WCO operators and develop best practices to facilitate proper handling and recycling of WCO.
Strengthening Regulation of Recycling of Waste Cooking Oils
- 1. Legislative Proposals on Strengthening Regulation of Recycling of “Waste Cooking Oils” 1
- 2. Regulation on “Waste Cooking Oils” produced in Food Premises 2 In the course of cooking and food preparation, “waste cooking oils”, such as used cooking oil, cooking oil which has passed its expiry date and grease trap waste, are generated by restaurants and food factories “Waste cooking oils”, if properly recycled, can be converted into commodities like biofuel and soap. This helps not just to protect our environment but also prevent them from being re-used for human consumption or as raw materials for food production
- 3. “Waste Cooking Oils”(WCO) Cooking oils abandoned from any cooking process, regardless whether they have been used for its original purpose Including used cooking oil, cooking oil which has passed its expiry date and grease trap waste Other than those from household 3
- 4. Amendments to the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap.354) Introduction of licences for the collection, disposal and import/export of WCO Any person, except for holders of a WCO export licence who exports WCO out of Hong Kong in accordance with licence conditions, who allows or causes WCO to be sold, transported, collected or transferred to a party without a licence granted under the Waste Disposal Ordinance commits an offence and is liable to a fine/imprisonment 4
- 5. Collection of “Waste Cooking Oils” WCO collectors must hold a collection licence issued under the Waste Disposal Ordinance Collection of WCO without a licence are liable to a fine/imprisonment WCO will only be sold or handed over to another collector/disposer/exporter who holds a licence issued under the Waste Disposal Ordinance Keep all transaction and storage records of WCO 5
- 6. Disposal of “Waste Cooking Oils” WCO disposers must hold a WCO disposal licence issued under the Waste Disposal Ordinance Operations without a licence are liable to a fine/imprisonment All disposal facilities in operation must comply with the applicable permit/licence requirements WCO can only be recycled for legitimate industrial re-use Keep all transaction, storage and disposal records of WCO 6
- 7. Import/Export of “Waste Cooking Oils” Importers/exporters of WCO must obtain a WCO import/export licence issued under the Waste Disposal Ordinance They are also required to obtain a permit issued under the Waste Disposal Ordinance for all shipments of waste import/export Those who import/export WCO without a licence/permit are liable to a fine/imprisonment Keep all transaction, storage and import/export records of WCO 7
- 8. Administrative Measures (prior to amendment of Waste Disposal Ordinance) 8
- 9. Restaurant and Food Factory Licence The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) proposes that an additional licensing condition be imposed on the food premises operating under a licence for a restaurant, factory canteen, bakery or food factory Any WCO produced during the cooking process on the licensed premises must be handed over to a collector, disposer or exporter, who is registered by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the relevant transaction records must be kept properly 9
- 10. Voluntary Registration EPD will accept registration application of WCO collector, disposer and exporter, the registration is voluntary and free of charge EPD will develop a “Good Practice Guide” to facilitate trade operations Operations of registered parties should comply with the “Good Practice Guide”, otherwise their registrations may be revoked Lists of collector, disposer and exporter will be uploaded to EPD’s website A registration certificate will be issued by EPD to each registered party 10
- 11. Registration Timeline Time Action Sept 2015 Announce the registration details and application requirements on EPD’s website Oct 2015 Accept and process 1st batch of registration application (1st Oct- 31th Oct) Early Dec 2015 Complete the 1st batch registration application Announce the 1st batch application result on EPD’s website and inform individual applicants by post Results of applications submitted in Nov 2015 will be announced in early Jan 2016, and so on11
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