Waste Management and Pollution Control
Recent audits of used oils accumulated across the Pacific region have revealed that alarming numbers of stockpiles of used oil pose a significant risk to Pacific islands environments and the health of local communities.
The used oil surveys have been completed in 13 Pacific island countries between 2012 and 2014.
Used oils are derived from lubricant oils and other hydraulic fluids, which are widely used across Pacific islands in cars, buses, trucks and in generators in power stations.
Used oil drums - photo SPREP/David.H
"Used oil typically contains a range of compounds that are detrimental to both human health and the environment," said Mr. David Sheppard, the Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as he highlighted the importance of the situation.
"Whilst there are some national collection systems in place for used oil such as in Fiji and Cook Islands, most Pacific island countries have no measures in place to manage used oil".
The audit results have also identified an urgent need to set up a regional collection system whilst awaiting implementation of country used oil stewardship systems. A stewardship programme entails the development of institutional reform through national used oil committees that enable the collection, storage and reuse of used oil and lubricants in an environmentally sound manner.
"As a result of the lack of national collection systems, used oil is often disposed of in landfills, burned, or illegally dumped, in some instances, in very sensitive aquatic habitats" explained Ms Lusiana Ralogaivau, the SPREP Global Environment Facility Pacific Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Project Coordinator.
"The Pacific POPs team will be tabling the results of the Stewardship programme at the upcoming Pacific Power Authority Conference in the Marshall Islands to help obtain ongoing commitment from Pacific Power Authority Stakeholders in addressing this important issue".
Ongoing support for Pacific island countries to manage oil in a sustainable way is being provided by SPREP through the GEF Global Environment Facility - Pacific Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Release Reduction Project. This is a 5-year GEF Funded project, executed by SPREP and co-funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). UNEP is the project implementing agency.
The used oil surveys have been completed in 13 Pacific island countries between 2012 and 2014.
Used oils are derived from lubricant oils and other hydraulic fluids, which are widely used across Pacific islands in cars, buses, trucks and in generators in power stations.
Used oil drums - photo SPREP/David.H"Used oil typically contains a range of compounds that are detrimental to both human health and the environment," said Mr. David Sheppard, the Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as he highlighted the importance of the situation.
"Whilst there are some national collection systems in place for used oil such as in Fiji and Cook Islands, most Pacific island countries have no measures in place to manage used oil".
The audit results have also identified an urgent need to set up a regional collection system whilst awaiting implementation of country used oil stewardship systems. A stewardship programme entails the development of institutional reform through national used oil committees that enable the collection, storage and reuse of used oil and lubricants in an environmentally sound manner.
"As a result of the lack of national collection systems, used oil is often disposed of in landfills, burned, or illegally dumped, in some instances, in very sensitive aquatic habitats" explained Ms Lusiana Ralogaivau, the SPREP Global Environment Facility Pacific Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Project Coordinator.
"The Pacific POPs team will be tabling the results of the Stewardship programme at the upcoming Pacific Power Authority Conference in the Marshall Islands to help obtain ongoing commitment from Pacific Power Authority Stakeholders in addressing this important issue".
Ongoing support for Pacific island countries to manage oil in a sustainable way is being provided by SPREP through the GEF Global Environment Facility - Pacific Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Release Reduction Project. This is a 5-year GEF Funded project, executed by SPREP and co-funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). UNEP is the project implementing agency.