Barbados
Mr. Chairman
The Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island developing States, noted that the
disposal of wastes is a serious constraint to sustainable development since both land and
sea-based sources of pollution require urgent attention. The Government of Barbados
recognizes the critical role that environmentally sound management of waste plays in the
protection of human health and environmental resources. Considerable human and
financ ial resources have been channeled into waste management and waste minimization
and significant efforts have been made to encourage recovery, recycling and reuse of a
number of waste types.
Some of the areas where we have made significant strides in fostering sustainable waste
management include:
· the development and implementation of the Integrated Solid Waste Management
Plan
· A Returnable Containers Act
· The construction through a Public ?Private Partnership (PPP) of a waste transfer
station for separation of solid waste and sorting to recover recyclable materials,
reducing the waste reaching the landfill
· An emerging recycling industry particularly for PET bottles, glass and cans
· Public education and awareness programmes on recycling, composting, the
implications of marine litter
While attention to providing infrastructure and services for waste collection and disposal
has played an important role in our development; there still remains room for
improvements through continued investment in regulatory, financial and technical
resources for waste management infrastructure with a greater focus on waste
minimization.
There are emerging challenges which highlight gaps in our regulatory framework for
waste management and the strategies to manage diverse wastes streams particularly in the
area of regulation of the recycling industry, waste minimization, disposal of hazardous
waste and the control of e-waste.
As with most developing countries, we are faced with the challenge to manage increasing
types and quantity of e-waste. A policy for e-waste management is being developed
which will address, inter alia, issues relating to our fragile groundwater resources and the
limited space available for environmentally sound disposal.
Mr. Chair, while we have made progress to date with the management of solid waste,
management of hazardous waste, including e-waste, continues to pose challenges for us.
While we continue to invest in the necessary infrastructure which will address ?end of
life? categories of waste, we have to devise strategies and policies, including economic
instruments, to encourage sustainable consumption and productions practices.
Further, there is an urgent need for improving data collection, analysis and reporting,
especially on quantities and types of hazardous waste generated. We require access to
information on emerging technologies for waste minimization and recycling suited to our
national situation. Additionally, personnel have to be further equipped with the ability to
assess and select appropriate technologies best suited to local implementation.
Mr. Chair
The Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and the Mauritius Strategy for
Implementation of the BPOA call for, inter alia, regional action; to develop pollution
control programmes, for removal and disposal of existing hazardous waste and
establishment, where appropriate, of regional centres for the training and transfer to
cleaner production technologies and the management of hazardous wastes generated at
the national level. We therefore call on developed countries to support regional efforts in
this regard.
Mr. Chair, for Barbados and other SIDS, due to our limited size, it is critical that we
focus on waste minimization, recycling and reuse. Our capacity for long term
environmentally sound storage and or disposal of the increasing quantities and types of
waste due to increased consumption levels is not sustainable.
I thank you.
The Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island developing States, noted that the
disposal of wastes is a serious constraint to sustainable development since both land and
sea-based sources of pollution require urgent attention. The Government of Barbados
recognizes the critical role that environmentally sound management of waste plays in the
protection of human health and environmental resources. Considerable human and
financ ial resources have been channeled into waste management and waste minimization
and significant efforts have been made to encourage recovery, recycling and reuse of a
number of waste types.
Some of the areas where we have made significant strides in fostering sustainable waste
management include:
· the development and implementation of the Integrated Solid Waste Management
Plan
· A Returnable Containers Act
· The construction through a Public ?Private Partnership (PPP) of a waste transfer
station for separation of solid waste and sorting to recover recyclable materials,
reducing the waste reaching the landfill
· An emerging recycling industry particularly for PET bottles, glass and cans
· Public education and awareness programmes on recycling, composting, the
implications of marine litter
While attention to providing infrastructure and services for waste collection and disposal
has played an important role in our development; there still remains room for
improvements through continued investment in regulatory, financial and technical
resources for waste management infrastructure with a greater focus on waste
minimization.
There are emerging challenges which highlight gaps in our regulatory framework for
waste management and the strategies to manage diverse wastes streams particularly in the
area of regulation of the recycling industry, waste minimization, disposal of hazardous
waste and the control of e-waste.
As with most developing countries, we are faced with the challenge to manage increasing
types and quantity of e-waste. A policy for e-waste management is being developed
which will address, inter alia, issues relating to our fragile groundwater resources and the
limited space available for environmentally sound disposal.
Mr. Chair, while we have made progress to date with the management of solid waste,
management of hazardous waste, including e-waste, continues to pose challenges for us.
While we continue to invest in the necessary infrastructure which will address ?end of
life? categories of waste, we have to devise strategies and policies, including economic
instruments, to encourage sustainable consumption and productions practices.
Further, there is an urgent need for improving data collection, analysis and reporting,
especially on quantities and types of hazardous waste generated. We require access to
information on emerging technologies for waste minimization and recycling suited to our
national situation. Additionally, personnel have to be further equipped with the ability to
assess and select appropriate technologies best suited to local implementation.
Mr. Chair
The Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and the Mauritius Strategy for
Implementation of the BPOA call for, inter alia, regional action; to develop pollution
control programmes, for removal and disposal of existing hazardous waste and
establishment, where appropriate, of regional centres for the training and transfer to
cleaner production technologies and the management of hazardous wastes generated at
the national level. We therefore call on developed countries to support regional efforts in
this regard.
Mr. Chair, for Barbados and other SIDS, due to our limited size, it is critical that we
focus on waste minimization, recycling and reuse. Our capacity for long term
environmentally sound storage and or disposal of the increasing quantities and types of
waste due to increased consumption levels is not sustainable.
I thank you.
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