[Solid
and Hazardous waste – collection and disposal]
Debate
No. 5 of 29.06.10
SOLID
AND HAZARDOUS WASTE - COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
(No.
1B/153) Mr R. Bhagwan (First Member for Beau Bassin &
Petite Rivière) asked the Minister of Environment and
Sustainable Development whether, in regard to solid and
hazardous waste, he will state -
(a)
the measures taken for their collection and disposal, and
(b)
if Government proposes to review the measures, in line with
the Maurice
Ile Durable Project.
The
Minister of Local Government and Outer Islands (Mr H. Aimée):
Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I shall reply to this
question.
With
regard to part (a) of the question, I wish to inform the House
that the collection and disposal of solid wastes and hazardous
wastes is carried out in three phases, namely –
(i)
collection of wastes which is effected by Local Authorities
and my Ministry, through both in-house services and contracted
out services;
(ii)
transportation of wastes, which is effected by vehicles owned
by Local Authorities and those of contractors from
across the islands. Hazardous wastes are transported by
the generators themselves under secured conditions and in
accordance with the appropriate hazardous waste regulations
and under the guidance of my Ministry, and
(iii)
disposal of the wastes at the Mare Chicose sanitary landfill,
which is the only disposal site on the island.
Mr
Speaker Sir, as far as hazardous wastes in particular is
concerned, at present only certain categories of solid
hazardous wastes are disposed of in a special hazardous waste
cell at the Mare Chicose Landfill, in accordance with
international norms and specifications.
In
regard to part (b) of the question, Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to
inform the House, that in line with the Government Programme
2010-2015, my Ministry is currently working on a coordinated
and integrated solid waste management programme focussing on
the concept of Maurice Ile Durable.
Mr
Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I am also laying a
statement on the Table of the National Assembly on that
matter.
Mr
Bhagwan: Can I know from the hon. Minister, at present,
how many transfer stations are operational
Mr
Aimée: There are five, Mr Speaker, Sir.
Mr
Bhagwan: Can I ask the hon. Minister whether he is aware
that normally a transfer station is supposed to be
environmental friendly? But, because of the volume of
waste, the existing transfer station has been converted into
open dumps which are causing a lot of hardships to the
inhabitants of the region surrounding the different transfer
stations.
Mr
Aimée: Yes, the decision over the five transfer stations
has been taken before my arrival at the Ministry, Mr Speaker,
Sir.
Mr
Bhagwan: The present state of the transfer station was
supposed to crush waste. The transfer station has been
converted into open dumps. Wastes are stockpiled,
causing a lot of havoc in the region.
Mr
Aimée: Actually, we are upgrading certain transfer
stations and if there is any open air landfills, as the hon.
Member said, I will see that the needful is done.
Mr
Fakeemeeah: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like the hon.
Minister to state to the House if there is any national policy
for the collection and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes?
If not, why?
Mr
Aimée: I have already answered to that question, Mr
Speaker, Sir.
Mr
Bhagwan: Regarding hazardous wastes, is the hon. Minister
satisfied that the collection and disposal of hazardous wastes
in Mauritius are being done according to international norms,
that there are no hazardous wastes which are being dumped in
the open air, as is the case now?
Mr
Aimée: Yes, Mr Speaker, Sir, all precautions have been
taken and there is no disposal, as the hon. Member said, in
open air for hazardous wastes.
Mr
Speaker: Yes, last question!
Mr
Bhagwan: Can I ask the hon. Minister what is his policy
concerning e-waste - scrapped computers, IT materials, old
televisions and so on? Is there a policy of Government as far
as e-waste is concerned?
Mr
Aimée: We are working on a policy for that, Mr Speaker,
Sir.
Mr
Bhagwan: The hon. Minister has just replied that hazardous
wastes are well disposed of and are not thrown in the open
air. I am stating that, in fact, not only hazardous
wastes are thrown in the open air, are dumped in open fields,
but also e-waste is thrown anywhere.
Mr
Aimée: I do not have this information, Mr Speaker, Sir.
If the hon. Member informs me where it is, I will check
it.
Mr
Speaker: I suspend the sitting for one and a half hours.
At
1.00 p.m. the sitting was suspended.
On resuming at 2.42 p.m. with the Deputy Speaker in the Chair
Keywords:
hazardous waste, collection and disposal of waste
