From 3rd May to 31st June 2010, Department of Environment inspectors will visit all commercial and industrial facilities in the Suva, Nasinu, Lami, and Nausori corridor that have been issued non-compliance notices to inspect their respective facilities.
The campaign will ascertain whether these facilities will be required to have waste permits as now mandatory under the Environment Management Waste Disposal and Recycling Regulations.
The Waste Disposal and Recycling Regulations of the Environmental Management Act 2005 came into force 1st January 2009. The basic requirement of this legislation on commercial and industrial facilities producing and discharging waste (either solid, liquid, or solid) is to have an approved permit from the Department of Environment authorising the discharge of any form of waste into the environment.
Commercial and industrial facilities include any form of facility engaged in any activity that produces and generates waste from commercial activities.
Since October 2009 the Department of Environment has been issuing non-compliance notices to all commercial and industrial facilities in the Lami, Suva, Nasinu, Nausori, Korovou, and Vunidawa areas operating and discharging waste without proper statutory compliance.
The next phase of the compliance will commence July to August 2010. Phase two inspection will focus on all commercial and industrial facilities in the Western division.