With the construction of new railways, MTR has initiated a programme to enhance environmental awareness in the construction industry by encouraging contractors to consider environment throughout the project lifecycle. For instance, procedures have now been revised so that environmental issues, most notably noise and disposal of construction waste, are incorporated into Prequalification Assessment Criteria.

Another example is the recent revision of the General Specification to further enhance the Contractor's obligations in terms of waste disposal. To maximise opportunities for re-use and recycling, MTR requires contractors to distinguish and segregate wastes into inert, non-inert and chemical waste.

MTR has pioneered the Partnering system in Hong Kong. This brings together traditionally separate client, designers, engineers and construction contractors at an early stage of a project and enables project designs, construction methods and sequences to be developed with the input of all parties. This improves the efficiency and implementability of the project and saves energy, time and materials.

Throughout a project, MTR audits the environmental performance of its contractors. MTR introduced an initiative in 1998 to link the results of selected environmental audits to milestone payments. This has been a particularly effective means of encouraging contractors to comply with the required standards throughout the contract life.

At the end of a project, a contractor's overall environmental performance is reviewed and recorded in order to inform future pre-qualification and tender processes.


5-year Contract for Station Cleaning

Traditionally, cleaning service contracts for Urban Line and Lantau Airport Railway stations, tracks, tunnels and station platforms have been managed by different functional units. The various contracts for these services were awarded to different contractors according to tender results and at different periods of time. Annual spending on these station cleaning contracts amounted to $60M.

To explore cost saving whilst enhancing service quality, the following changes have been made to the Contract :-

· Consolidation of all stations, plant rooms, track and tunnel cleaning services in a single contract for tender.

· Performance specification with emphasis on the environment, e.g. the Green Bins, cleaning of the flower beds outside station entrance maintenance of a clean environment for passengers.

· Specification to reflect the use of more environmentally friendly cleaning products and minimise wastewater disposal within the stations.

Hence, flexibility was built in the tender such that the Corporation could award contracts based on the most viable options out of 15 possible combinations. This resulted in an annual saving of 17% (equivalent to $10M). In addition, quality services have been enhanced because the Contractor has been given a mission to maintain a clean and tidy environment within stations and outside station entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

<Environmental Management System>, <Project Specific Management>,

<Managing Our Suppliers>,

<Accounting for the Environment>, <Key Environmental data>
Social and Environmental Targets for 2002 Environmental Performance in 2001 Sustainability Awareness Social Environment Economic Global Reporting Initiative Indicator MTR's Environmental Policy Opinion Statement Verification Statement Feedback Corporate Environmental Report 2000 The Environmental Matrix Introduction Chairman's Message Chairman's Message About MTR