International Workshop on Framework Law on Waste Management

11 January 2016, Jeju, Republic of Korea – CIFAL Jeju, in collaboration with UNEP’s International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), convened officials from central, state and local governments from thirteen different countries in South America, Asia-Pacific and Africa for a three-day workshop on "Framework Law on Waste Management”. The workshop took place in Osaka, Japan from 16 to 18 December 2015.

Countries represented in the workshop included Bhutan, Cambodia, Ghana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Saint Lucia, Thailand, Uganda and Uruguay. During the workshop, participants worked together to compile fourteen exemplary environmental legislations developed by seven countries (Canada, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America) with the objective of drafting guidelines for framework law on waste management. Throughout this workshop, participants reviewed the draft guidelines, identified any gaps in policy, compliance and enforcement to formulate the best possible waste management policy options for their respective countries.

Professor Mr. Jeff Seadon from the Auckland University of Technology of New Zealand who contributed to draft the guidelines and also facilitated the workshop. Mr. Masa Nagai from UNEP’s Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC) also moderated the overall discussion to improve the guidelines. The guidelines focused on key areas including air pollution, industrial waste, inert waste, water pollution, waste strategy, waste hierarchy, waste prevention and disposal, circular economy and extended producer liability. The final version will be distributed during the first semester of 2016.