PNG PacWastePlus Project

The Papua New Guinea project sought to provide a holistic approach to hazardous waste management through the development of national strategies and regulations, and build capacity and community awareness, to help PNG achieve environmental, economic, social, and health benefits.

Project Description

Situation in 2018

Hazardous waste management remains a challenge in Papua New Guinea where exposure to toxic substances and chemicals have adverse impacts on public health and the environment. Increased exposure to hazardous waste is known to cause disease and create serious health problems. For many communities in PNG water resources can be contaminated by pollutants through poorly managed waste handling and disposal. Post-World War II consumer habits have also greatly increased the amount of waste generated in many Pacific countries including PNG.

What was the Papua New Guinea's Project About?

Hazardous waste management is a challenge in Papua New Guinea where exposure to toxic substances and chemicals have adverse impacts on public health and the environment. This project shall provide a holistic approach to hazardous waste management through the development of national strategies and regulations, and build capacity and community awareness, to help PNG achieve environmental, economic, social, and health benefits.

Future Situation

Improved long-term management of three waste streams in Papua New Guinea – asbestos, E-waste, and healthcare waste. Land, water, and air pollution caused by inappropriate management of hazardous wastes and materials is reduced as residents and businesses appropriately store and manage waste in accordance with the newly crafted regulations, policies, and procedures. Reduction of hazardous waste related illness by the creation, revision and execution of various hazardous waste management strategies and capacity building efforts. Reduce exposure to asbestos and potential health complications by the creation and adoption of a ban on the importation of asbestos containing materials.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. Develop Strategies and guidelines for the management of asbestos, e-waste, and healthcare waste
2. Enhance the capacity of government and private industry to better handle, manage and dispose of hazardous waste 
3. Adopt appropriate regulations, policies, and procedures to eliminate the importation of asbestos containing materials, and to provide for the proper handling of asbestos containing materials

Key Outcomes from Project Implementation

Key Outcomes & Impacts

The creation of systemic management of hazardous materials occurred through the development and implementation of national strategies, legislative strengthening and operational activities (Code of Practice).

The Project intervention created an enabling environment for 
the management of asbestos containing materials through the implementation and development of a minimum standard of operation management by the asbestos management code of practice.  The transformation of the construction and demolition industry to proactively and effectively identify and appropriately manage asbestos containing materials, thereby protecting workers and the public from the potential risk of exposure was a key outcome.

The project contemporised Healthcare Waste Management through the revisions, adoption, and implementation of a national healthcare waste management strategy, development and delivery of industry vocational training to public health authorities through- out  the country, the standardisation of this training for all existing and future employees of Ministry of Health and their health care facilities, and the development and implementation of facility based healthcare management plans and their implementation  

The project created the enabling environment for the emerging 
E-waste processing industry and it’s management of E-Waste through the adoption of a National E-Waste Management Strategy and associated implementation guidelines.

Key Project Achievements

• 128 staff from 13 Provincial Health Authorities participated in train- the-trainer courses on healthcare waste management
• 1 National Healthcare waste Management Strategy with associated Guidance
• 1 asbestos Importation ban for cabinet consideration
• 1 Asbestos Management Code of Practice and Supplemental Guidance for cabinet consideration
• 1  National E-waste Management Strategy with associated Guidance
• 16 % (approximately 1.7 million people) of PNG reached each day via radio messages on hazardous waste management 

Supporting Documents

The following table provides a complete list of all documents developed during the project, including technical guidelines, training materials, reports, and communication resources. Where possible, links to the documents hosted on the SPREP website have been included to enable direct access.