Trinidad and Tobago (parliamentary democracy) Environmental Management Act 2000

Source: www.sidsnet.org/docshare/other/20041102123338_TRINIDAD_AND_TOBAGO_NAR_2003.doc

Management of Wastes and Sanitation Systems The existing solid waste systems in Trinidad and Tobago do not adequately fulfill the need for the provision of environmentally sound management of the nations wastes. We live on a small island with limited land mass and, therefore, cannot continue to abuse our environment indefinitely without suffering the adverse consequences. It is, therefore, imperative that we urgently seek to establish creative and cost effective systems to meet the countrys waste management needs. Some major constraints relating to waste management are highlighted as follows:

There is no single institution/agency responsible for waste management in Trinidad and Tobago. Even though the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) was established in 1995 to address the countrys environmental issues, responsibility for waste management is still shared among several Ministries, statutory bodies and other government agencies. Because there is no one responsible institution/agency, there is duplication of efforts in some areas and negligence in others. The EMA, has however, signed Memoranda of Understanding with various agencies, institutions and companies in order to facilitate cooperation in the management of the environment. The existing legal framework does not comprehensively address the issues facing waste management. Existing legislation is spread over a number of different institutions and agencies making implementation and enforcement somewhat fragmented and difficult. The EMA is at present working on the establishment of comprehensive rules and regulations for the management of wastes.

In an effort to improve the system for solid waste management in the country, the present Government proposes to develop and commence implementation of an integrated Solid Waste Management Plan for the country in 2004. Further, the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), was introduced to undertake community based environmental projects through the employment of small contractors throughout the country. CEPEP has been in operation for just under a year, and has had far-reaching economic, social and environmental benefits, including entrepreneurial development and employment creation. In this regard, over one hundred new entrepreneurs have been established providing employment for over six thousand (6,000) citizens while ensuring a sustainable marriage between the environment and the community.

In recent years, significant interest has been expressed throughout the Caribbean regarding the environment and the need for better waste management systems. One of the responses to this need is a project called the EuroColumbus Project. The EuroColumbus Project aims at the creation of a Caribbean operational plan for waste reduction and recycling. The project was first introduced by the non-profit organization, Environment West Indies (EWI) in September 2000 and was officially launched on October 7, 2002 at the 1st CEF Conference held in St Lucia. EWI is a non-profit organization based in Martinique. Its aim is to encourage economic cooperation and transfer of technology between the French West Indies and the neighboring states of the Caribbean regarding environmental matters. Funding for this project is being obtained through European aid programmes. The EuroColumbus Project arose from the necessity of a regional approach to the environmental problem of waste treatment in the Caribbean, taking into account the cultural, economic and social aspects of every island. In the first phase, a one-year feasibility study which will be undertaken with a view to establishing an operational plan for waste treatment and recycling for the Caribbean Region. This is to be followed by implementation of the appropriate solutions.
Source: http://www.ramsar.org/wurc/wurc_policy_trinidad.htm

Wetlands in Caroni have been similarly affected by the development of Point Lisas Industrial Estate. Portions of the Caroni and South Oropouche Swamps have been used for land filling of solid waste. The indiscriminate and excessive application of agro-chemicals to agricultural lands has impacted unfavourably upon wetland ecosystems at Caroni, Nariva and Oropouche. Organic waste from poultry and livestock farms is also washed into wetlands via rivers and drains. The unplanned and unregulated use of land for industrial purposes has also resulted in the discharge of harmful effluent including heavy metals and other toxic waste into wetlands. Oil spilled onto land or leaked from defective pipelines drains into the South Oropouche Swamp via the South Oropouche River. Silt from wash plants associated with quarry operations has been proven to affect plant and animal life at Fishing Pond and Caroni Swamps. With respect to domestic sources of pollution, malfunctioning sewage treatment plants installed to service residential developments in Trinidad and Tobago have discharged inadequately treated sewage into drainage channels which flow into wetlands at Caroni and Bon Accord. Household solid waste disposed into watercourses is also transported into wetlands to the detriment of their ecoysytem. Town and Country Planning Act, Chap. 35:01 (Act 29 of 1960, amended by 13 of 1974, 49 of 1977). The Act provides for the orderly and progressive development of land, and for the grant of permission to develop land.

Part II makes provision for statutory Development Plans indicating for which purposes the minister proposes that land be used. Part IV of the Second Schedule to the Act list amenities for which provision may be made as: Item 8: Prohibiting, regulating, and controlling the deposit or disposal of waste material and refuse, the disposal of sewage and the pollution of rivers, lakes, ponds, gullies and the seashore.
Source: www.basel.int/meetings/cop/cop7/stmt-trinidad.doc

Trinidad and Tobago has one of the most diversified and industrialized economies in the English-speaking Caribbean primarily as a result of the countrys reserves of petroleum and natural gas. The availability of relatively cheap energy has contributed to the development of heavy industries such as iron and steel, cement, methanol, LNG, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, specialty chemicals and petrochemicals. Trinidad and Tobago also has a wide variety of small scale manufacturing industries which include wood preserving and wood products, textiles, leather/tanning, printing, plastics, PVC, chlorine, sulphuric acid, battery manufacturing, metal fabrication, electrical machinery and components, metal fabrication and shipbuilding/repair. There are nineteen (19) industrial estates in the country, with Point Lisas being the largest comprising eighty-five (85) tenants. The heavy economic reliance on the petrochemical, industrial and manufacturing sectors as well as wastes generated by the countrys three (3) major hospitals, twenty (20) private clinics and forty (40) medical laboratories, vehicles, the agricultural sector and domestic activities, results in the production of a large amount of hazardous waste. In this regard we feel that the Basel Convention, will be invaluable for providing technical and financial assistance to developing systems to manage and dispose of the hazardous waste which we ourselves generate in an environmentally sound and cost effective manner. This is extremely important to us since despite the fact that Trinidad and Tobago generates a large amount of potentially hazardous waste; the options for waste disposal are limited with no dedicated hazardous waste landfill or disposal facility on the island. with regard to addressing the deficiencies in the legal framework, Trinidad and Tobagos National Environment Policy requires the Environmental Management Authority to develop a list of hazardous wastes, establish requirements for handling and disposal of same, establish standards and design criteria for hazardous waste handling and disposal facilities, and enforcement of these requirements through licensing and permitting requirements. The Environmental Management Authority is also required to develop legislation to give effect to the Basel Convention and has to date completed a technical background paper for rules on waste management which was developed by a multi-stakeholder committee. Mr. President, our challenges in respect of waste management and the fact of our small size, just 5,128 square kms underlie our belief that it is only through the combined effort of regional and international cooperation that solutions can be achieved. It is therefore significant that the theme of the high-level segment is Partnership for Meeting the Global Waste Challenge In this regard, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago welcomes the decision taken at the Third Meeting of the Conference of Parties, to select Trinidad and Tobago as the site

for a Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean Sub-Region. Mr. President, like many other nations, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has long recognized the need to arrest its problem of waste management and has taken the initiative to implement a range of activities to address these challenges. We have worked within our existing legislative and regulatory framework to provide mechanisms for restructuring the management of waste in the country. While this has met with some measure of success there is need for focused legislative and administrative mechanisms geared to dealing specifically with the issues of generation, export and disposal of hazardous waste. Despite these efforts Small Island Developing States such as ours are faced with a myriad of challenges not least of which is our limited financial and technical resources. In this regard we welcome the establishment of Regional Centers for Training and Technology Transfer for enabling activities under the Basel Convention.
Source: www.basel.int/centers/Activities2004-2005.doc List of training workshops, seminars and meetings organized by the Basel Convention Regional Centres on Training and Technology Transfer (BCRCs) during 2004 and envisaged for 2005

1.

Second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Project "Preparation of a regional strategy for the environmentally sound management of used leadacid batteries in Latin America and the Caribbean"

San Salvador, El Salvador

16 to 18 August 2005

BCRC El Salvador and BCRC Trinidad and Tobago

This second meeting will review the draft regional strategy that has been prepared so far. It will also review the preliminary elements of a financial strategy involving private and public sources for the implementation of the proposed strategy. The Steering Committee is composed of representatives from Governments in the region, industry, international organizations and universities.

Additional funding by UK, USA and UNEP

1.

Regional Awareness Raising Workshop on Mercury Pollution

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

18-21 January 2005

BCRCTrinidad and Tobago, UNEP Chemicals

Raise awareness of the global, regional and local nature of mercury pollution problems and assist countries to identify and prioritise mercury issues within their borders and within their region. Raise awareness of the potential options to reduce exposures, uses, and releases of mercury. Promote action, both

immediate and long-term, at both national, regional and global levels to protect human health and the environment from mercury releases (in line with UNEP GC decision 22/4 V). Promote the exchange of information on problems and solutions to facilitate immediate action and early risk reduction. Prepare countries for future decisions of further measures for addressing the significant global adverse impacts of mercury (in line with UNEP GC decision 22/4 V)Source: http://www.ecouncil.ac.cr/rio/national/reports/america/trinidad.htm

Waste recycling Solid Waste Management Co. Ltd. Bottle and paper recycling 1. A community cooperative was formed. Bottles are collected from the landfill, sorted, broken, and sold to Carib Glassworks are cullet. The income has been used to encourage other business initiatives. There are also other individual operatives. This began prior to UNCED. Paper is collected in business establishments, and sold to Venezuela for recycling/reuse.

2.

Problems Environmental - increasing landfill sites, water quality protection, overuse of natural resources Socio-economic- poverty, economic opportunities for women Key conditions Partnership between private sector business and community Underlying values Environmental - water pollution, land scarcity, sustainable resource management Socio-economic - poverty alleviation, opportunities for women and youths economic benefits (to both parties) Institutional - community strengthening, partnerships