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National Cleaner
Production Awards 2008
The National Cleaner
Production Awards 2008 was held on 17th
October 2008 at the Trans Asia Hotel with the
participation of a large and distinguished gathering.
The Chief Guest at the event was Hon. Kumar Welgama,
Minister of Industrial Development while Guests of
honour were Hon. Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Minister of
Science & Technology, Hon. Patali Champika Ranawake,
Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and His
Excellency Tore Hattrem, Ambassador of Norway.
This year the number of
award categories was increased to five from a single
category last year, enabling increased participation.
Ninety applications were taken by prospective
participants from all five categories, out of which
thirty six were submitted for participation.
Hon.
Kumara Welgama, H.E. Tore Hattrem and Hon. Patali
Champika Ranwake on arrival at the award ceremony
After the preliminary desk
top evaluation, the participating organizations were
evaluated on site by a team of consultants by visiting
the organizations. Based on their reports a panel of
judges decided on the winners. Among the winners were
one Gold, four Silver and two Bronze winners while
several received awards for CP in energy, material and
water. The panel of judges consisted of eminent
personnel representing industry, public institutions and
universities.
Cultural items performed by
students of the University of Music and Performing Arts
kept the audience entertained.
Gold
winner Brandix (Seeduwa) receiving the award from Hon.
Kumara Welgama
A special item in the CP
awards programme was the conducting of a post event work
shop to enlighten the participants on general short
comings observed by the evaluators during their visits
and in completing the application forms etc. with a view
to help them perform better in the future.
Hon.
Prof. Tissa Vitarana addressing the audience at the CP
awards ceremony
CP Awareness
Programme for Matale Base Hospital
The DMO and the staff of
Matale base hospital were keen to learn on Solid Waste
Management and how cleaner production can be applied in
their day to day operations to improve their
performance. To full fill this need, NCPC carried out a
one day awareness programme for a selected group from
the hospital staff. We believe that this programm would
help motivate them for better management of their waste,
especially the hazardous waste.
Seminar on Chemical Leasing
Chemical Leasing is a
developing concept practiced by several countries in
Europe to reduce the consumption of chemicals in
industry, thereby to reduce environment pollution.. The
usual practice of purchase and stocking of chemicals is
avoided by the manufacturers, by obtaining the service
from chemical suppliers to full fill their requirement.
This avoids wastage of chemicals as well as improves the
efficiency of the process.
Ms.
Sonja Bauer making a presentation at the Chemical
Leasing Seminar
A seminar on this new
concept was organized for several industrialists who are
involved in using chemicals in their processes. Five
from among the participants were selected to join in the
Chemical Leasing programme in Sri Lanka, which will be
conducted by NCPC. This programme will be extended to
other industries on its success.This programme offered
by UNIDO, Vienna is the second in its global programme
which includes Columbia, Serbia, Morocco and Sri Lanka.
Cleaner Production
in
Packaging
Packaging is an essential item for better marketing of a
product, however the recyclable and non recyclable waste
generated from packaging should be given due
consideration due to the high raw material cost and
environmental pollution arising from used packaging is
also high.
Mr. Rohan Jayathileke Asst. Director, MID making the
welcome address at the seminar
An awareness programme on application of cleaner
production for the packaging industry was organized by
the Ministry of Industrial Development and conducted by
NCPC in the Ministry Auditorium on 18th
August with 41 industrialists in the sector
participating.
Matale ISWM
Project completed successfully
The Integrated Solid Waste
Management Plan prepared by National Cleaner Production
Centre (NCPC) for the Matale Municipal Council (MMC)
with the technical and financial assistance of UNEP-International
Environmental Technology Centre was handed over to the
MMC at the final dissemination seminar held on the 7th
of November 2008. The seminar which was held at the
Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo was attended by over 175
stakeholders from Matale as well as rest of the country.
These stakeholders included Policy Makers, Regulators,
Service Providers and members of Local Authorities from
around the island.
The chief guest at this
event was Hon. Champika Ranawaka, Minister for
Environment and Natural Resources. In addition to this
Mr. Casian Herath, Secretary to the Ministry of
Provincial Councils and Local Government and Mr. Surya
Chandak, Deputy Director of UNEP-IETC was also present.
In addition to presenting the plan a panel discussion
was also carried out with a group of experts in the
field of solid waste management, including mayors and
municipal commissioners from other cities that have
carried out similar activities in Solid Waste
Management.
The main objective of this
seminar was to disseminate the successes achieved in
developing the ISWM Plan to other local government
authorities in order to replicate such projects
throughout the country.
The ISWM plan which
consists of 31 schemes, 8 sub-projects and 2 pilot
projects will provide the MMC with a blue print to
develop an integrated solid waste management system for
Matale. The major elements of the plan are; policy
changes and economic tools, Technological options and
Voluntary actions which address each segment of the
waste management cycle. The schemes and projects
mentioned above will facilitate the implementation of
the plan.
The ISWM Plan advocates
resource recovery, value addition to waste and community
participation in SWM. The implementation of the plan
will lead to the recovery and recycling of around 32
tons of Solid Waste which will be a considerable
reduction in the solid waste being disposed. The figure
given below clearly indicates how the ISWM Plan will
redirect/convert several solid waste streams through
different schemes and projects.
Projected waste flow after implementation of ISWM Plan
REACH Programme
REACH is the new European Regulation on
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction
of Chemicals which entered into force on 1st June 2007.
It is presently applied in the countries of the European
Economic Area, including all EU Member States, Norway
and Liechtenstein Island. The main aims of REACH are to
improve the protection of human health and the
environment from the risks that can be posed by
chemicals, the promotion of alternative test methods,
the free circulation of substances on the internal
market and enhancing competitiveness and innovation.
Seminar on Registrarion, Evaluation, Authorization and
Restriction of Chemicals
REACH makes industry responsible for
assessing and managing the risks posed by chemicals and
providing appropriate safety information to their users.
In parallel, the European Union can take additional
measures on highly dangerous substances, where there is
a need for complementing action at EU level.
Under this
requirement, all manufacturers and importers of
chemicals must identify and manage risks linked to the
substances they manufacture and put on the market. It
also applies to substances produced or imported in
quantities of 1 ton or more per year per company where
manufacturers and importers need to demonstrate that
they have appropriately done so by means of a
registration
dossier, which must be submitted to
the European Chemicals
Agency (ECHA)
Under the REACH requirements,
exporters from Sri Lanka too have to follow suit and
register themselves. A dead line which is 1st
of December 2008 has been drawn for pre- registration
which allows exporters a period of 2 to 10 years for
formal registration.
In order to create awareness among
Sri Lankan exporters, on the obligations that they have
to follow in the future, a seminar was conducted on 20th
October by NCPC with assistance from UNIDO. Ms. Sonja
Bauer, Director, BiPPRO Ltd. Germany was the main
resource person and was supported by NCPC consultants.
Responsible Care
Responsible Care is a global
commitment to the responsible management of chemicals
through their entire life cycle and to social
responsibility. Responsible Care is also a
global initiative
that is practiced currently in 53 countries, which share
a common commitment to advancing the safe and secure
management of chemical products and processes. Specific
Responsible Care practices may vary from country to
country as they are determined by each country’s laws
and national industry association.
Most commonly mentioned
benefits from Responsible Care would be,
·
A comprehensive approach to managing all aspects of
their business and operations
·
Synergy with ISO and other management systems approaches
·
Real cost saving through better safety and environmental
performance
·
Assurance of due diligence through the codes and
verification processes
·
Community feedback that they are “doing the right thing”
·
Acknowledgement by activist groups that they are part of
the “leading edge”
·
Greatly improved treatment by governments at all levels
·
A greater voice in shaping public policy
·
Less worry about regulatory surprises and impacts
·
Fewer crises
·
Greatly improved employee morale
·
Reduced insurance and financing rates
MR. Berry Dyer making his presentation at the seminar
Since
this is a new concept for our country, NCPC conducted an
awareness seminar for the industry personnel and
interested organizations on
18th October 2008 at
the
Hilton Colombo Residence (JAIC Hilton. The main resource
person was Mr. Barry S Dyer, Chief executive officer -
New Zealand Chemical Council, supported by Dr. Ajith de
Alwis, Senior Lecturer, Ch. Process & Engineering Dept.
University of Moratuwa.
Training Programme on CP Assessment Methodology
The Ministry of Youth Affairs which gives a supporting
hand to small time businessmen to develop themselves was
interested in training their officers on Cleaner
Production techniques to help the businessmen in turn.
NCPC in collaboration with the Construction Engineering
Training Centre (CETRAC), conducted a two day training
programme from 14th to 15th August
at the CETRAC training centre. Thirty three participants
attended the training programme.
Eco
– Office audit at Dambulla Div. Secretariat Office
The Divisional Secretariat office at Dambulla is an
exception to many other public offices in Sri Lanka,
where the staff of this office headed by the Secretary
is keen to set an example to the people it offers
services. They have already implemented 5S and have
achieved fair results and are keen to further improve
their performance by adopting Cleaner Production
techniques.
At the request of the Divisional Secretary an awareness
seminar on CP was conducted by the centre on 15th
of January 2008 for the staff of the Secretariat.
Following this seminar the Divisional Secretariat
requested NCPC to carry out a detailed eco-office audit
at this new office building. This assessment was carried
out in July 2008 following which a detailed report was
submitted to the Divisional Secretary.
One significant outcome of this activity was that the
Dambulla Divisional Secretariat was the first and only
government office to receive the Bronze Award of Cleaner
Production Excellence for the year 2008.
NCPC consultants in discussion on the Eco-Office program
with officials of the Dambulla Div. Secretariat
School Programmes
The school programmes which
were halted due to security reasons commenced again with
two programmes being conducted, one to Greenwood
College, Matale and the other to Rippon College, Galle
at the request of the school Principals. The programme
at Greenwood College was only for students of the school
while the programme at Rippon College was in connection
with their Commerce day which was participated by
several other schools in the area.
CP Awareness Seminar at Green Wood Collage, Matale
CP Awareness Seminar at Rippon Collage, Galle
Other Programmes
-
Energy Assessment at DSI
Galle
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CP awareness seminar for
industrialists organized by IDB Kegalle
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Two day training
programme on CP assessment organized by the
International Water Management Institute and COSI
Foundation(Waste Water Agriculture & Sanitary for
Poverty Alleviation project)
NCPC consultants carrying out energy measurements in
factories
8th
APRSCP in Cebu, Philippines
An eight member delegation
led by Hon. Kumara Welgama, Minister of Industrial
Development participated at the 8th Asia
Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and
Production held in Cebu, Philippines from 18th _
20th September. The highlight of the event for Sri Lanka
was the receiving of the APRSCP banner by the Hon.
Minister as a mark of acceptance for hosting the 9th
APRSCP in Sri Lanka. National Cleaner Production Centre
will be the implementing organization supported by the
Ministry of Industrial Development. It is planned to
hold the Roundtable in May 2010.
Sri Lanka delegation led by Hon. Kumara Welgama at the
8th APRSCP in Cebu, Phillippines
The Director Board of
APRSCP presently has two members from Sri Lanka, namely
Mr. M N R Cooray, Technical Manager, Indexpo
Certification (Pvt.) Ltd. UNIDO and Mr. V R Sena Peiris,
Director NCPC.
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