The National Ozone Unit (NOU) tasked with the implementation and roll out of the National Hydrofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) continued its efforts to support the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector and the public to use alternatives and adopt ozone friendly practices. Over the period January - March, 2016, these activities included:  

•  Technology transfer: The NOU distributed hydrocarbon leak detectors to local air condition and refrigeration technicians. Hydrocarbon has been identified as a viable alternative to the ozone depleting refigerant; HCFCs in the RAC sector. 

•  Regulation of HCFCs: In accordance with the HPMP, quotas were given to eleven (11) local companies to import the R22, R123 refrigerants and their blends. By law, all imports of refrigerant and equipment containing refrigerant require a license from the Trade Licensing Unit of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

• Training: The United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNEP ROLAC) conducted a mission to Trinidad and Tobago. This mission was to facilitate a project which included a training session designed to encourage the use of alternatives to methyl bromide (MB) in this country, and to strengthen the capacity of the fumigation sector to use these alternatives.

• School Awareness Programme: the NOU in an effort to sensitise the public about the ozone layer, its depletion and current initiatives of the NOU as well as how to protect themselves against UV rays, participated in environmental events in schools specifically the Bishop Anstey High School and Trinity East High School's Sustainability Fair and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Primary School's Materials and Energy Conservation Day. In addition, the NOU conducted sensitisation sessions at ASJA Girls and Bishop Anstey High School, Port of Spain.

 

 

NOU Staff engage with students at the Bishop Anstey and Trinity East  Sustainability Fair 

Children of the UWI Primary School thoroughly engrossed in with the presentation by the NOU/EPPD staff.

Ms. Neera Singh,  Ozone Assistant, with students of ASJA Girls after  her presentation on ozone depletion.

For more information on the NOU's activities, visit nou-tt.blogspot.com.

National Legislative Ammendments in accordance with the Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, was developed in response to concerns internationally, involving the dramatic rise in the illegal shipment of hazardous waste from developed countries for disposal in developing countries and Eastern Europe. Trinidad and Tobago acceded to the Basel Convention in 1994, and as such the country is obligated to ensure that such waste is managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

The country has experienced ad hoc incidents involving the unauthorised entry of hazardous chemicals and waste into the country. Although these were fortunately detected by the Customs and Excise Division, as they were in contravention with a list of permissible substances on their check system, all the hazardous substances as listed under the Basel Convention are not currently included in that system. Thus, the country remains at risk for future illegal trafficking of hazardous waste.

In response to this issue, the EPPD initiated a series of mechanisms to make amendments to the Import and Export Negative Lists, which would by extension give the force of law nationally to the implementation of the Basel Convention. More specifically, the objective is to establish an Import and Export Licensing System, through the inclusion of those Basel Convention hazardous wastes that are of major concern locally on to the Import and Export Negative Lists respectively.

This will serve two main functions:

•  the restriction of the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes across the country’s borders and;
•  the creation of a regulatory mechanism to monitor and control by way of documentation of the  hazardous waste being transported. 

Consultations have been ongoing with key stakeholders, namely the Customs and Excise Division, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) as the Competent Authority under the Basel Convention and the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Thus far progress has been positive and the key stakeholders have been very active and accommodating. It is anticipated that the final steps on this matter would be implemented in the not too distant future.