Finland to host UN seminar on hazardous wastes in the Middle East

Press release 43/2005
4 February, 2005


The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Finland are jointly organising a capacity-building seminar on hazardous wastes in the Middle East in Helsinki on 7-9 February for sixteen officials and experts from Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

The seminar will explore the technical aspects of hazardous wastes policies and practices in the region. Topics will include best available technologies and procedures for the treatment of hazardous wastes, the respective roles of industries and municipalities and regional cooperation.

The event will be opened by the Finnish Minister of Environment Jan-Erik Enestam, and during the seminar Finnish experts will present the country’s experiences in the field of hazardous wastes management.

The seminar is being organised in response to several recommendations contained in a recent UNEP report entitled “Desk Study on the Environment in the Occupied Palestinian Territories”(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window). These recommendations include separating hazardous and non-hazardous wastes and setting up pilot projects for managing medical wastes and for recycling tyres.

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]

The UNEP Desk Study and other documents(Link to another website.)