A Strategy for the Management of Contaminated Dredged Sediment in Hong Kong

Large-scale reclamation and site formation projects in Hong Kong have aroused increasing concerns regarding the disposal of enormous quantities of dredged marine sediment. These projects will generate nearly 400 Mm3 of dredged sediments in the next 15 years. This disposal is further complicated by widespread contamination of the sediment by heavy metals and organic micro-pollutants, especially around Victoria Harbour. w of the urgent need to provide appropriate guidelines for the evaluation, dredging and disposal/treatment of sediments, the Environmental Protection Department initiated a study to formulate a strategy for the management of dredged sediment. The study included an assessment of the degree and extent of contamination of dredged sediment, and the development of a classification scheme for defining degrees of contamination. This paper outlines the major findings in the study and the strategy recommended for the management of contaminated spoil in Hong Kong.