report on the state of the environment of macao 2019 solid ...report on the state of the environment...

Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2019

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4. Solid Waste Solid waste is a key issue in urban management as well as one

of the major environmental problem facing in Macao. The entry

into force of the Restrictions on the Provision of Plastic Bags on

18th November of 2019 marked a milestone in the “Polluter pays

principle” policy of the Government of the Macao SAR. Beside

pushing forward the legislation of the Construction Waste

Management System of Macao, the Government of the Macao SAR

also continues to strengthen public’s awareness of “Waste

reduction at source”, proactively extends the list of recyclable

items and expands the recycling networks, as well as provides

funds through the Subsidy Scheme for Acquisition of Equipment

and Vehicles for the Recycling Industry of the Environmental

Protection and Energy Conservation Fund (FPACE) in order to

deal with the increasing amount of solid waste.

This chapter will introduce the generation, treatment, disposal,

and recycling of solid waste in Macao in 2019.

Indicators for environmental analysis in this chapter

Generation, Treatment and Disposal of Solid Waste

Recycling of Solid Waste

4.1 Generation, Treatment and Disposal of Solid Waste

DPSIR Framework

Status

In 2019, the disposal quantity of municipal solid waste and the disposal

quantity of municipal solid waste per capita in Macao increased

compared to 2018 (see Figure 4.1 and Table 4.1). The major physical

compositions of municipal solid waste (over 80%) were organic

substances, plastics, and paper/cardboard correspondingly (see Figure

4.2 and Table 4.3).

For construction waste, slag and fly ash, the quantity of construction

waste and slag increased in 2019 compared with that of 2018. The

quantity of sea mud in construction waste increased significantly, which

may be caused by the increasing number of basement excavation works

of large-scale construction projects, while the amount of fly ash

decreased slightly (see Figure 4.4 and Table 4.5).

The quantity of special and hazardous waste increased in 2019

compared with 2018 (see Figure 4.3 and Table 4.4).

D Driving Forces P Pressures S States I Impacts R Responses

http://www.dspa.gov.mo/StateReportHTML/2016/pdf/en/04.pdf


46

Status

In 2019, the total number of waste vehicles decreased significantly

compared with 2018. The number of waste industrial vehicles and semi-

trailers increased significantly compared with that of 2018, though these

two types of vehicles accounted only for a relatively small proportion. The

number of other types of waste vehicles also decreased significantly as

compared to 2018 (see Figure 4.6 and Table 4.6).

In 2019, the quantity of oily waste in storage tanks of the electricity supply

company decreased significantly compared with that of 2018 (see Figure

4.5).

For more information about marine debris, see Chapter 3.

Decadal trends

In the past decade, with the growth in the population, visitor arrivals, and

local GDP in Macao, the disposal quantity of municipal solid waste

(increasing by a factor of nearly 1.8) and the disposal quantity of municipal

solid waste per capita showed an overall upward trend.

Decadal trends

In the past decade, it is worth noting that the quantity of construction waste

in Macao exhibit a general upward trend. In fact, since the operation of the

Construction Waste Landfill in 2006, with the increasing medium and

large-scale urban construction projects, the Landfill had already handled

about 40 million cubic meters of construction waste by 2019 and reached

its full capacity. Due to the limited land area, the construction waste could

only be piled up in the landfill site with an average height around 9.5

meters and the highest point 25 meters. The situation is very serious and

may pose security risks to the important infrastructures nearby. In order to

reduce the risk, the Government of the Macao SAR has carried out a

project to improve the geological condition of the Landfill and planned to

reduce the construction waste at source by implementing the Construction

Waste Management System of Macao. In addition, selected inert

construction and demolition materials will be used for land reclamation

projects in some parts of new reclamation zones of Macao. The

Government of the Macao SAR hopes that part of construction waste of

Macao could be treated by regional cooperation in a long run.

In the past decade, the amount of special and hazardous waste and the

total number of waste vehicles both showed a general upward trend, with

the former increased by a factor of over 1.7, and the increase of the latter

owing to the reinforcement of vehicle restriction, phasing-out of two-stroke

motorcycles and the impact of the typhoons, etc.


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Figure 4.1 Disposal quantity of municipal solid waste and disposal quantity of

municipal solid waste per capita in the past years

(Data source: DSPA, 2020) Notes:

1 The gray line is the trend line of the disposal quantity of municipal solid waste.

2 The percentage in the figure is the variation of relevant indices between 2019 and 2018.

Table 4.1 Numerical data and annual percentage increase/decrease in the

disposal quantity of municipal solid waste and disposal quantity of

municipal solid waste per capita between 2018 and 2019

2018 2019

Annual

percentage

increase/

decrease

Mean disposal quantity of municipal

solid waste per capita1 (kg/capita‧day) 2.17 2.24 +3.2%

Disposal quantity of municipal solid

waste2 (tonne) 522,548 550,249 +5.3%


1 Disposal quantity of municipal solid waste per capita = disposal quantity of municipal solid waste

÷ (mid-year population × number of days of the year).

2 Municipal solid waste refers to solid waste generated from daily life, as well as commercial and

industrial activities, which includes domestic waste, as well as industrial and commercial waste.

Environmental knowledge

Table 4.2 Disposal quantity of municipal solid waste per capita in recent

years1

City/

Region

Mean disposal

quantity of municipal

solid waste per capita

(kg/capita‧day)

Data source

Macao 2.242 Report on the State of the Environment of

Macao 2019, Macao

Singapore 1.493 Yearbook of Statistics Singapore, 2019,

Singapore

Hong Kong 1.534 Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong -

2018, Hong Kong

Beijing 1.245 Beijing Statistical Yearbook 2019, Beijing

Guangzhou 1.025 Guangzhou Statistical Yearbook 2019,

Guangzhou

Shanghai 0.875 National Bureau of Statistics of China -

National Data, China

Notes:

1 The disposal quantity of municipal solid waste per capita is calculated based on the official data

from each region in the ways shown in Notes 2-5.

2 Data of 2019 is cited. Disposal quantity of municipal solid waste per capita = disposal quantity

of municipal solid waste ÷ (mid-year population × number of days of the year).

3 Data of 2018 is cited. Waste for disposal per capita = disposal quantity of waste (domestic and

non-domestic waste) ÷ (mid-year population × number of days of the year).

4 Data of 2018 is cited. Per capita disposal rates of municipal solid waste = disposal quantity of

municipal solid waste (daily average) ÷ mid-year population; municipal solid waste includes

domestic waste, commercial waste and industrial waste.

5 Data of 2018 is cited. Daily mean quantity of domestic waste for removal per capita = removal

quantity of domestic waste ÷ ((end-year) resident population × number of days of the year).


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Figure 4.2 Physical composition of municipal solid waste in the past years

(Data source: DSPA, 2020)

Figure 4.3 Quantity of special and hazardous waste transferred for

treatment in the past years


Note:1 The gray line is the trend line.

Figure 4.4 Quantity of solid waste disposed in landfills in the past years


Notes: 1 The gray line is the trend line of construction waste.

2 The percentages in the figure is the variations of relevant indices between 2019 and 2018.

Construction waste keeps piling up in the Construction Waste Landfill


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Figure 4.5 Quantity of oily waste in storage tanks of the electricity supply

company in the past years (Data source: CEM, 2020) Notes: 1 The data shows the quantity of oily waste in storage tanks of the electricity supply company in

relevant years.

2 The percentage in the figure is the variation between 2019 and 2018.

Figure 4.6 Number of waste vehicles in the past years

(Data source: DSAT, 2020) Notes:

1 The gray line is the trend line of the total number of waste vehicles.

2 The percentage in the figure is the variation of relevant indices between 2019 and 2018.

Table 4.3 Physical composition of municipal solid waste between 2018 and

2019

(Unit：%) 2018 2019

Wood 1.9 2.9

Metals 4.4 3.7

Glass and rubble 4.7 4.1

Fabrics 3.4 3.9

Paper/cardboard 20.3 23.5

Plastics 22.5 23.5

Organic substances 39.5 35.7

Others 3.3 2.8


Table 4.4 Numerical data and annual percentage increase/decrease of the

quantity of special and hazardous waste between 2018 and 2019

(Unit: tonne) 2018 2019

Annual

percentage

increase/

decrease

Quantity of special and hazardous

waste1 3,756 3,949 +5.1%

(Data source: DSEC, 2020) Note: 1 Special and hazardous waste includes waste tires, slaughterhouse waste, animal carcasses,

medical waste, oil residues, chemical waste and waste oil, etc.


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quantity of construction waste, sea mud, slag and fly ash between

2018 and 2019

2018 2019

Annual percentage increase/ decrease

Construction waste (’000 m3) 2,010 2,394 +19.1%

Among which: Sea mud1 (’000

m3) 331 420 +26.9%

Slag (tonne) 96,821 100,943 +4.3%

Fly ash (tonne) 20,879 20,385 -2.4%

(Data source: DSEC, 2020)

Note: 1 Sea mud is a kind of excavation material generated from civil works.


number of waste vehicles between 2018 and 2019

(Unit: no.) 2018 2019


Total number of waste

vehicles 16,647 12,268 -26.3%

• Light vehicles 5,712 4,476 -21.6%

• Light motorcycles 3,521 2,471 -29.8%

• Heavy motorcycles 6,841 4,620 -32.5%

• Heavy vehicles 542 323 -40.4%

• Semi-trailers 18 35 +94.4%

• Industrial vehicles 13 343 +2,538.5%

(Data source: DSAT, 2020)

4.2 Recycling of Solid Waste

DPSIR Framework

Status

For waste recycling, according to foreign trade statistics on plastics,

rubber, paper and metals, due to significant decreases in the export of

metals and paper in 2019, the recovery rate of recyclable waste was

16.8% which decreased significantly compared with 2018, probably due

to tightened restrictions on the import of waste resources in Mainland

China and the recovery prices (see Figure 4.7 and Table 4.7).

Meanwhile, the quantity of recycled plastics, metals, and glass bottles

collected by the DSPA and IAM in 2019 increased compared with that of

2018, while the quantity of recycled paper decreased. In 2019, the

Government of the Macao SAR continued to support the sustainable

development of the recycling industry through the Subsidy Scheme for

Acquisition of Equipment and Vehicles for the Recycling Industry of the

FPACE.

In respect of food waste recycling, the DSPA and IAM jointly recycled

around 441,819 kg of food waste in 2019, with a noticeable increase

compared with 2018. In addition, in 2019, the DSPA purchased

composting equipment, with which recycled food waste was processed

into organic fertilizers and distributed to the public for free.

Note: 1 The responsibility of The “Recycling glass bottles is very easy” scheme has been transferred to

the DSPA since the second quarter of 2019.

D Driving Forces P Pressures S States I Impacts R Responses


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Status

For recycling of electronic and electrical waste, DSPA continued to

extend the list of recyclable items and launched the “Disposing used

lamps is easy” scheme, recovering light tubes, compact fluorescent

lamps, LED lamps, tungsten lamps, halogen lamps, HID lamps, mercury-

containing lamps and so on. Meanwhile, through the “Recycling batteries

is very easy” scheme, DSPA recovered a total of 20,039 kg of used

batteries in 2019, an increase of over 70% compared with 2018, and

recovered 29,708 pieces of equipment, which is less significantly than

that of 2018, by the “Computers and communication equipment recovery

programme”. Some computers and communication equipment that met

requirements after processing were donated while other equipment were

dismantled and recovered. Meanwhile, the recyclable materials and

used batteries were transported to other regions for recycling and

resource treatment in compliance with the Basel Convention.

(see Table 4.8 and Table 4.9)

Regarding the recycling of tree waste, IAM recovered a total of 629.8

tons in 2019, representing a drastic decrease compared to that of 2018

(the quantity of recovered tree waste increased dramatically in 2018 due

to the typhoon).

Status

For promotion of waste reduction, since the Law No. 16/2019 Restrictions

on the Provision of Plastic Bags came into force on November 18, 2019,

until the end of 2019, DSPA had spot checked more than 900 businesses

and found no violations of the law. For the sake to promote the awareness

of “Plastic reduction”, DSPA carried out a series of initiatives and schemes

such as the “Reducing the use of plastic bags would be rewarded”, the

“Reducing plastic is very easy”, and the “Bringing your own reusable water

bottle is easy”, and installed plastic bottle collection machines. In addition,

DSPA continued encouraging residents to adopt green habit of waste

reduction at source, waste separation and recycling through various

recycling schemes and Eco Fun stations in the communities.

Decadal trends

In the past decade, foreign trade statistics revealed a stable recovery rate

of waste such as plastics, rubber, paper, and metals. However, due to

tightened restrictions on the import of waste policy in Mainland China and

reduced export of metals and paper, the recovery rate decreased

significantly in 2019.


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Figure 4.7 Recovery rate of recyclable waste based on calculation of import

and export statistics in the past years

(Data source: DSEC, 2020)

Notes: 1 Including recyclable solid waste such as plastics, rubber, paper and metals.

2 The recyclable solid waste recovered in Macao is basically transported to Mainland China and

other countries for recycling. The above estimations are made according to the import and export

statistics of DSEC on the quantity of plastics, rubber, recovered (waste and scrap) paper or

cardboard, and scrap metals.

3 The gray line is the trend line.

4 The percentage in the figure is the variation between 2019 and 2018.

Table 4.7 Numerical data and annual difference of the recovery rate of

recyclable waste based on calculation of import and export

statistics between 2018 and 2019

(Unit: %) 2018 2019 Annual

difference

Recovery rate of recyclable waste1 22.1 16.8 -5.3


1 Including recyclable solid waste such as plastics, rubber, paper and metals.

2 The recyclable solid waste recovered in Macao is basically transported to Mainland China and

other countries for recycling. The above estimations are made according to the import and

export statistics of DSEC on the quantity of plastics, rubber, recovered (waste and scrap) paper

or cardboard, and scrap metals.


quantity of recyclable waste collected by DSPA between 2018 and

2019

2018 2019


Used batteries1 (kg) 11,692 20,039 +71.4%

Computers and communication

equipment2 (no.) 39,648r 29,708 -25.1%

Light tubes and bulbs3 (kg) - 4,616 note4


Notes: 1 Used batteries: the quantity of used batteries collected by the DSPA through its used battery

collection Scheme.

2 Computers and communication equipment include desktop computers, laptops, cathode-ray

tubes/liquid crystal displays, printers, scanners and others.

3 Light tubes and bulbs include light tubes, compact fluorescent lamps, LED lamps, tungsten

lamps, halogen lamps, HID lamps and mercury-containing lamps.

4 The “Disposing used lamps is easy” scheme was launched in May 2019. Due to lack of

comparability, no calculation of percentage increase/decrease is made. r Revised figure.


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quantity of recyclable waste collected by DSPA and IAM between

2018 and 2019

(Unit: kg) 2018 2019


Food waste1 355,016 441,819 +24.5%

Plastics2 250,194 304,467 +21.7%

Metals2 242,973 273,537 +12.6%

Aluminum/iron cans2 (no.） 1,114,662 1,138,356 +2.1%

Paper2 2,697,573 2,589,161 -4.0%

Glass3 417,544 1,052,908 note3

(Data sources: DSPA, IAM, 2020)

Notes: 1 Food waste: Including the quantity of food waste treated by the DSPA under the food waste

demonstration project, the on-site food waste treatment research project and the “Eatery

Food Waste Recycling Pilot Program”, as well the quantity of food waste treated by the IAM

under its food waste recovery project.

2 Recycled plastics, recycled paper, recycled aluminum/iron cans (number), and recycled

metals include those recovered by the DSPA under its “EcoFun-Waste sorting can be fun”

scheme, “Recycling red envelopes is very easy” scheme, and “Recycling lunar cake boxes

is very easy” scheme, as well as those collected by the IAM under its “Waste separation and

recycling programme”.

3 Recycled glass: Data of 2018 were the recovery quantity collected through the “Glass bottle

recovery programme” of IAM, which has been suspended from October 2017 until May 2018

due to the typhoon. Due to lack of comparability, no calculation of percentage

increase/decrease is made.

In 2019, the disposal quantity of municipal solid waste, disposal quantity of

municipal solid waste per capita, quantity of construction waste, slag, and

special and hazardous waste in Macao increased in varying degrees

compared with 2018, while the quantity of fly ash and the total number of

waste vehicles decreased.

In the past decade, the disposal quantity of municipal solid waste, the

disposal quantity of municipal solid waste per capita, and the quantity of

construction waste were on an overall upward trend. Among them, the

disposal quantity of municipal solid waste per capita remained at a high level.

Moreover, the waste piled up in the Construction Waste Landfill posed a

threat, and the situation is very serious that calling for an immediate

mitigation.

In terms of waste recycling in 2019, with the expansion of recyclable items

and recycling networks, food waste, plastics, metals and glass collected

through different recycling programs by DSPA and IAM increased in varying

degrees compared with 2018, except the amount of paper collected

decreased. Meanwhile, due to tightened restrictions on the import of waste

policy in Mainland China and reduced export of metals and paper, the

recovery rate of recyclable waste, 16.8%, calculated based on the foreign

trade statistics was lower than that of 2018.

As a result of rapid urban, economic and social development of Macao in

recent years, the quantity of some recycled waste had increased but is not

enough to offset the increase in the quantity of waste generated. Meanwhile,

due to the limited land area of environmental protection infrastructure, solid

waste treatment has become one of the major environmental problems of

Macao that needs an immediate mitigation. In accordance with the Macao

Solid Waste Resources Management Programme (2017-2026), the

Government of the Macao SAR is now progressively implementing a series

of measures, such as the implementation of the law Restrictions on the


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Provision of Plastic Bags, extension continuously the list of recyclable items

and expansion of the recycling networks, improving environmental protection

infrastructure and recycling facilities, strengthening the promotion and

education on “Waste reduction at source”, optimizing the implementation of

the Subsidy Scheme for Acquisition of Equipment and Vehicles for the

Recycling Industry, as well as pushing forward the legislation work on the

Construction Waste Management System of Macao and the Financial Support

Scheme for Acquisition of Food Waste Treatment Equipment.

It is recommended to strengthen the waste reduction at source measures,

promote clean recycling, green living and green consumption among the

communities, and encourage enterprises such as tourism and gaming

industry, construction sector and catering sector to take their social

responsibilities to protect the environment by waste reduction. Meanwhile, it

is important to ensure the allocation of lands for all solid waste treatment

facilities, as well as the construction and optimization of relevant facilities, in

order to treat and reuse of the solid waste properly and protect the public

health. Also, it has to provide stronger support for the recycling industry.

Furthermore, taking the opportunity of the development of the Guangdong-

Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, it is also suggested to reinforce regional

cooperation on waste management, and to promote the environmentally

sound treatment, reduction and recycling of solid waste innovatively and

effectively.

Comparison

between

2019 and 2018

Trends of the

past decade

Disposal quantity of municipal

solid waste

Good Equal or Similar Bad

report on the state of the environment of macao 2019 solid ...report on the state of the environment...

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