Delegations from Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority discussed hazardous waste issues in Helsinki
Press release 48/2005
11 February, 2005
Delegations from Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority gathered in Helsinki on 7-9 February to participate in a Capacity Building Seminar on Hazardous Waste in the Middle East organized jointly by the Government of Finland and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The meeting was viewed as useful and constructive by both the organisers and the participants, as it succeeded in promoting active dialogue and the sharing of experience on hazardous waste management.
The Co-Chairs of the meeting, Aapo Pölhö, Director General, Africa and the Middle East, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Pekka Haavisto, Chairman, UNEP Post-Conflict Assessment Unit, emphasised the following points in their summary of the meeting:
Sound hazardous waste management requires the development of four key pillars, on technical infrastructure, legislation, administration, and research and development.
Public-private partnerships play an essential role, both to address control and liability issues and also to mobilize the needed investments.
The Polluter Pays Principle should be applied to enable basic cost recovery from the generators to cover at least operational costs.
Cleaner production and good housekeeping can reduce the costs to industry.
The high cost of incineration should be addressed by finding innovative ways of disposing of waste, through regional cooperation and on addressing the ban on imports.
Public awareness should be encouraged in national programmes.
The seminar highlighted examples of good practice and lessons learned in the region. Participants expressed their interest in additional cooperation, including on the exchange of experience and success stories.
The Basel Convention Regional Centres could be a forum for regional cooperation.
International cooperation should be accessible through existing environmental agreements to all Parties and observers.
Access should be promoted to environmentally sound treatment facilities through regional cooperation.
The seminar encouraged the development of a national master plan on hazardous waste and development and activation of an emergency plan for the Palestinian Authority.
Support should be provided to developing countries by the international community to manage hazardous waste through bilateral programmes, twinning and the implementation of environmental treaties.
The programme included a visit to Ekokem Ltd, the main hazardous waste facility in Finland. The Basel Convnention Secretariat also participated the seminar through presentations and discussion.
The Government of Finland and UNEP are ready to explore and discuss with the partners possibilities for further cooperation on hazardous waste as well as other environmental topics of regional importance.
Further information:
Finland: Jarno Syrjälä, Counsellor, Unit for the Middle East and North Africa, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. 09 1605 5406, gsm 040 836 0594, e-mail [email protected]
United Nations Environment Programme: Eric Falt Spokesman, Director, UNEP Division of Communications and Public Information, tel. +254 20 623292, e-mail [email protected], or Nick Nuttall, UNEP Head of Media, tel. +254 20 623084, mobile +254 0 733 632755, e-mail [email protected]