The Environment Management Act 2005, with the Waste Disposal and Recycling Regulations 2007 is now in force.
The Department of Environment, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Suva City Council, and Ministry of Defence is embarking on a campaign denoted as “Operation Compliance – Environmental Pollution”.
The campaign is scheduled from the 14th – 16th October, 2009 with the target group being commercial and industrial facilities in the Suva City and Suva Rural Local Authority Boundary.
This campaign is exclusively dedicated to:
Helping the commercial and industrial facilities become aware of the requirements of the Environment Management Act 2005.
Ensuring that these commercial and industrial facilities understand the full spectrum of the requirements that govern the permit system under the Waste Disposal and Recycling Regulations 2007.
The highlight of this campaign is visitation by government officials, with the issuing of Non-Compliance Notices to facilities that have not applied for a permit. Breach of these notices would result in legal action by the Department of Environment.
Target groups should use this as an opportunity to hear the latest requirements and complex answers in relation to any waste generated on a commercial or industrial basis, importation, handling or transportation of batteries or hazardous substances or even the set up of a recycling facility, landfill or solid waste dump.
The expected outcome is for all current and future operators of commercial and industrial facilities to adhere to the requirements of the Environment Management Act 2005. This will ensure the incorporation of environmental considerations as major components in their daily operations.