The regional project entitled "Demonstration of Best Available Techniques (BATs) and Best Environmental Practices (BEPs) in Open Burning Activities in Response to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)" is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the Global Environment Fund as the funding partner. The regional project is in collaboration with national and international executing partners from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Philippines and Vietnam: Read more
The project aims to create resource efficient waste management systems to reduce U-POPs emissions through the introduction of BAT/BEP in open burning sources and achieve a reduction of approximately 90% of current PCDD/PCDF releases at the pilot demonstration sites in the participating countries. The Project will play a vital role in supporting the participating countries in fulfilling the objectives reported in the national implementation plans (NIPs) and specific national plans.
The project will provide the opportunity for involving national stakeholders, such as ministries/departments, municipalities, local authorities, research and academic institutions, universities and environmental NGO as executing partners. Pilot demonstration activities will address selected dumpsites, landfills and villages. These enterprises will be the key stakeholders in implementing BAT/BEP, and making a shift from burning of waste to recycling or re-use.
Legislation Improvement would refer to expected outputs such as updated legal and regulatory frameworks for open burning to facilitate waste management improvements and BAT/BEP and to enable the introduction of financing mechanisms.
Institutional Strengthening through the enhancement of the institutional capacity to carry out BAT/BEP implementation. This is attained by strengthening human resources, institutions on regional and/or national levels on waste management and the implementation of BAT/BEP in the open burning of biomass and wastes.
Demonstration Activities on Pilot Sites through the development of BAT/BEP plans and implementation at the selected demonstration sites of each participating country.
Education and Awareness Raising through awareness raising campaigns that emphasizes health and environmental hazards of open burning practices, carried out on targeted relevant stakeholders. Educational programs aimed at introducing and promoting alternatives to open burning practices, carried out targeted groups at several levels.
Monitoring and Evaluation through established project management structure and the system for monitoring/evaluation of project impacts.
Open burning is the process of burning of waste using an open flame exposed to the environment, which releases smoke and other pollutants directly to the air. It is used to reduce volume and dispose combustible materials. However, it is considered as environmentally unacceptable due to the production of chemicals and other pollutant products due to incomplete combustion.