Serious Public Health
Improper disposal of e-waste creates a significant burden on landfills because toxic substances can leach into the soil and groundwater. Certain items are particularly harmful. For instance, cathode ray tube (CRT) television monitors contain, on average, 4 to 8 pounds of lead, a highly toxic heavy metal. In Jamaica, the waste disposal sites do not accept e-waste. |
Is the Policy Coming?
In 2011 the then Education Minister Andrew Holness said the Government was looking at developing an electronic waste (e-waste) policy and creating an industry to deal with the management and recycling of this refuse. According to Holness, instead of dumping electronic waste, an industry could be established to deal with this.
"We should have the facility to process those computers to make sure that they are configured to our standards; to make sure that the people who will receive these computers understand the useful life of the computer; and that when the computer has reached that useful life, we understand the appropriate way of disposing of that computer," he said. A technology centre, had been established by the Camara Jamaica Foundation Limited, that would have been a hub for the distribution, refurbishing and maintenance of recycled computers provided by the Foundation's parent company, Camara International, a charitable organisation based in Ireland. |
The Permit
In 2014 the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) granted two environmental permits to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA)..
The Environmental Permits are issued in the categories:
• Solid waste treatment and disposal and
• Hazardous waste storage, transportation, treatment or disposal facility
The permit requires the NSWMA to adhere to conditions on a three (3) phase basis, where the second phase of the permit lasts two years and includes additional conditions related to the establishment and maintenance of a special waste cell and holding area for e-waste.
The hazardous waste permit, allows the NSWMA to handle and store e-waste, used tyres and asbestos containing materials at the facility in specialized areas and with the prior approval of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). The conditions allow for environmental sound management of these categories of waste.
The Environmental Permits are issued in the categories:
• Solid waste treatment and disposal and
• Hazardous waste storage, transportation, treatment or disposal facility
The permit requires the NSWMA to adhere to conditions on a three (3) phase basis, where the second phase of the permit lasts two years and includes additional conditions related to the establishment and maintenance of a special waste cell and holding area for e-waste.
The hazardous waste permit, allows the NSWMA to handle and store e-waste, used tyres and asbestos containing materials at the facility in specialized areas and with the prior approval of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). The conditions allow for environmental sound management of these categories of waste.
Pilot Project
This year 2015 The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has launched a pilot project to collect specific categories of electronic waste (E-Waste) from six communities in Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine. The pilot project is for six months.
The six communities include Duhaney Park, Harbour View, Patrick City in St. Andrew and Hellshire, Angels Estate Phase 1 and 2 and Angels Grove in St. Catherine.
The six communities include Duhaney Park, Harbour View, Patrick City in St. Andrew and Hellshire, Angels Estate Phase 1 and 2 and Angels Grove in St. Catherine.
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Minister of Education Andrew Holness (left) speaks with chairperson of the Digicel Foundation, Lisa Lewis (right) and Cormac Lynch (second right), chief executive officer of Camara International, following a ceremony held at the Penwood High School in Kingston to officially open its technology centre on August 18. Looking on (from second left) are Alan Beckford, project director for the Ministry of Education's Career Advancement Programme, and principal of the school, Austin Burrell. - Contributed