Waste Management and Pollution Control
Specialised training on hazardous waste management in the Pacific has concluded in Suva, with participants feeling optimistic about their improved understanding of the Waigani Convention.
The Convention, which came into force in 2001, bans the importation of hazardous and radioactive wastes. Importantly, it also restricts the production of these waste types and encourages signatories to dispose of them in an environmentally sound manner.
The four-day training programme, run by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), attracted delegates from 16 Pacific island countries and territories.
In his closing address, Mr Kevin Helps, GEF Portfolio Manager for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), applauded the participants for their work:
"It's been wonderful to attend a portion of this training and to hear you working together to find local solutions to local problems. The challenges that you face with waste management here in the Pacific are unique - no-one else in the world has these same issues. UNEP considers this body of work - and the GEF portfolio in the region - to be one of the key areas of our work and I'm confident that it will be great success. By working together we can make this region cleaner and safer for future generations."
These comments were echoed by Mr Tevita Tupou, General Manager of Customs and Enforcement for the Fiji Government:
"On issues such as the movement of hazardous waste, it is crucial to see things from both a national and a regional perspective - to take a holistic approach. Here in the Pacific we may be challenged by geographic distance - but we can overcome this by coordinating our approach to address the challenges that we face. Together we can help develop our economies in a sustainable manner."
Sione Tukia Lepa, Chief Environmentalist at Department of Environment explains that the training provided the opportunity for the Tongan delegation to learn more hazardous waste management:
"Tonga faces a great challenge with regard to the disposal of hazardous waste. The types of hazardous waste that we produce include radioactive materials from medical waste such as X-ray equipment, agricultural chemicals, batteries, waste oils and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Currently, none of these hazardous waste types can be properly disposed of within the country as we lack the technical expertise and appropriate technologies. This means that our only option is to ship these materials overseas. We are looking forward to continue working with SPREP to identify areas in which they can assist us in building our capacity to fulfil our obligations under the Waigani Convention to enable us to do this."
Mr Alexandre Le Gayic (Ingénieur déchets. DIREN) and Ms Alexandra Riviere (Inspecteur des installations classees, DIMENC) are attending the training on behalf of French Polynesia and New Caledonia, respectively. Mr Le Gayic explains:
"As French territories, neither French Polynesia nor New Caledonia are permitted to become Parties to the Waigani Convention. By virtue of our location, however, we are frequently required to arrange for the passage of hazardous waste through countries that are signatories. This can pose problems with regard to coordination, monitoring and compliance."
In this respect, Ms Riviere believes that the training has been useful on two levels:
"It has been very good for us to learn more about the Waigani Convention obligations of our island neighbours. And of equal importance has been the opportunity that we have had to share our own processes with the Pacific island nations present at the training."
Patricia Pedrus, Sustainable Development Planner in the Environment and Sustainable Development Division of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, enjoyed the collaborative format of the training:
"I like the fact that I was here to represent the Office of Environment and my colleague, Lorina Rae Seady, is also here through her role as Customs Analyst. This is very useful because in order to effectively implement the Waigani Convention there needs to be a close collaboration between officers working in these two separate areas."
Mr Elkoga Gadabu, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Industry and Environment, attended the training on behalf of Nauru:
"Nauru is not currently Party to the Waigani Convention but it is something that we will be considering in the future. The issue of exporting hazardous waste is something that has to be addressed at a national level - especially given the hazardous materials, like asbestos, that we need to dispose of properly."
The four-day training was officiated by Dr Frank Griffin, Hazardous Waste Management Adviser at SPREP, with assistance from colleagues from SPREP and other agencies. Dr Griffin explains:
"It's been a very fruitful four days with a high level of interest and engagement from all participants. It's been particularly encouraging to hear such a strong commitment from SPREP Members about working collaboratively to address the challenges that the region faces with regard to toxic chemicals and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). We're looking forward to working with our Member countries to further improve their capacity in the management of hazardous waste."
The Waigani Convention Training was supported by the Pacific POPs Release Reduction project which is co-funded through the Global Environment Facility - Pacific Alliance for Sustainability (GEF-PAS) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD). It is executed by SPREP, in close cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The training was attended by representatives from Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu who are Parties to the Convention. Also present are representatives from French Polynesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru and New Caledonia who are not Parties to the Convention, as well as representatives from PIFS.
The Convention, which came into force in 2001, bans the importation of hazardous and radioactive wastes. Importantly, it also restricts the production of these waste types and encourages signatories to dispose of them in an environmentally sound manner.
The four-day training programme, run by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), attracted delegates from 16 Pacific island countries and territories.
Mr Kevin Helps (GEF Portfolio Manager, UNEP) and Mr Tevita Tupou (General Manager of Customs and Enforcement for the Fiji Government) on the final day of the training workshop. Photo: A.Carvan/SPREP
In his closing address, Mr Kevin Helps, GEF Portfolio Manager for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), applauded the participants for their work:
"It's been wonderful to attend a portion of this training and to hear you working together to find local solutions to local problems. The challenges that you face with waste management here in the Pacific are unique - no-one else in the world has these same issues. UNEP considers this body of work - and the GEF portfolio in the region - to be one of the key areas of our work and I'm confident that it will be great success. By working together we can make this region cleaner and safer for future generations."
These comments were echoed by Mr Tevita Tupou, General Manager of Customs and Enforcement for the Fiji Government:
"On issues such as the movement of hazardous waste, it is crucial to see things from both a national and a regional perspective - to take a holistic approach. Here in the Pacific we may be challenged by geographic distance - but we can overcome this by coordinating our approach to address the challenges that we face. Together we can help develop our economies in a sustainable manner."
Mr Sione Tukia Lepa (Chief Environmentalist at Department of Environment, Tonga) receives his certificate of attendance from SPREP's Hazardous Waste Management Adviser, Dr Frank Griffin. Photo: A.Carvan/SPREP
Sione Tukia Lepa, Chief Environmentalist at Department of Environment explains that the training provided the opportunity for the Tongan delegation to learn more hazardous waste management:
"Tonga faces a great challenge with regard to the disposal of hazardous waste. The types of hazardous waste that we produce include radioactive materials from medical waste such as X-ray equipment, agricultural chemicals, batteries, waste oils and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Currently, none of these hazardous waste types can be properly disposed of within the country as we lack the technical expertise and appropriate technologies. This means that our only option is to ship these materials overseas. We are looking forward to continue working with SPREP to identify areas in which they can assist us in building our capacity to fulfil our obligations under the Waigani Convention to enable us to do this."
Delegates from the French territories of French Polynesia and New Caledonia attended the four-day Waigani Convention training. Photo: A.Carvan/SPREP
Mr Alexandre Le Gayic (Ingénieur déchets. DIREN) and Ms Alexandra Riviere (Inspecteur des installations classees, DIMENC) are attending the training on behalf of French Polynesia and New Caledonia, respectively. Mr Le Gayic explains:
"As French territories, neither French Polynesia nor New Caledonia are permitted to become Parties to the Waigani Convention. By virtue of our location, however, we are frequently required to arrange for the passage of hazardous waste through countries that are signatories. This can pose problems with regard to coordination, monitoring and compliance."
In this respect, Ms Riviere believes that the training has been useful on two levels:
"It has been very good for us to learn more about the Waigani Convention obligations of our island neighbours. And of equal importance has been the opportunity that we have had to share our own processes with the Pacific island nations present at the training."
Delegates from the Federated States of Micronesia, Patricia Pedrus and Lorina Rae Seady.
Photo: A.Carvan/SPREP
Photo: A.Carvan/SPREP
Patricia Pedrus, Sustainable Development Planner in the Environment and Sustainable Development Division of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, enjoyed the collaborative format of the training:
"I like the fact that I was here to represent the Office of Environment and my colleague, Lorina Rae Seady, is also here through her role as Customs Analyst. This is very useful because in order to effectively implement the Waigani Convention there needs to be a close collaboration between officers working in these two separate areas."
Mr Elkoga Gadabu, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Industry and Environment for Nauru. Photo: A.Carvan/SPREP
Mr Elkoga Gadabu, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Industry and Environment, attended the training on behalf of Nauru:
"Nauru is not currently Party to the Waigani Convention but it is something that we will be considering in the future. The issue of exporting hazardous waste is something that has to be addressed at a national level - especially given the hazardous materials, like asbestos, that we need to dispose of properly."
The four-day training was officiated by Dr Frank Griffin, Hazardous Waste Management Adviser at SPREP, with assistance from colleagues from SPREP and other agencies. Dr Griffin explains:
"It's been a very fruitful four days with a high level of interest and engagement from all participants. It's been particularly encouraging to hear such a strong commitment from SPREP Members about working collaboratively to address the challenges that the region faces with regard to toxic chemicals and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). We're looking forward to working with our Member countries to further improve their capacity in the management of hazardous waste."
The Waigani Convention Training was supported by the Pacific POPs Release Reduction project which is co-funded through the Global Environment Facility - Pacific Alliance for Sustainability (GEF-PAS) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD). It is executed by SPREP, in close cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The training was attended by representatives from Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu who are Parties to the Convention. Also present are representatives from French Polynesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru and New Caledonia who are not Parties to the Convention, as well as representatives from PIFS.