IN THE BAHAMAS MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS DEFINITION Hazardous

IN THE BAHAMAS MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS

DEFINITION �Hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. �In The Bahamas, the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste is regulated under the Bahamas The Environmental Planning and Protection Act of 2000.

METHOD OF COMPUTATION �Strategy Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). �Under the auspices of the World Health Organization. �Engineered a survey currently being conducted by the Department of Environmental Health. �Survey collecting data on the quantity and type of hazardous waste produced in The Bahamas.

DATA SOURCES �Department of Environmental Health �Public Corporations: Bahamas Electricity Corporation The Water & Sewerage Corporation �The Grand Bahama Port Authority

TYPES OF DATA � Pesticides and Herbicides List currently being assembled. � Leaded batteries Old ones collected by producer & shipped out. � Chemicals produced by laboratories & small manufacturers Waste from Schools currently stored by DEH. Private labs & Small Manufactures only purchase what they can consume.

TYPES OF DATA � Health Industry Need a contract with waste disposal company � Restaurant Industry Cooking Fuel converted to Bio-Diesel by local company Smaller restaurants utilize grease traps (container underground)

TYPES OF DATA � Automobile Repair businesses Car oil collected for shipment but the repair shops want to be paid. DEH currently not sure what they do with the oil. � Large Manufacturer’s, Public Corp, Landscapers, Hotels, Hospitals Information being currently collected on how they manage their waste.

Water & Sewerage Corp. Dumpsite for sewerage & oil

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION �Survey of all businesses that are likely to produce hazardous waste. These include manufacturers, hotels, gas stations etc. �Large businesses that manage their own waste also compile a record of the waste. �Government organizations also collect data.

AVAILABLE DATA �Import and Export data is available on a quarterly basis. This data is mainly Organic and Inorganic chemicals, Pesticides and Herbicides. �Data collected through the survey is expected to followed up by completion of an on-line survey on a quarterly basis.

DATA GAP �There appears to be major gaps in the available data. �Historical data also appear to be unlikely to be collected for most of the hazardous waste being produced.

RECOMMENDATION AND AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT �The sources that collect data on hazardous waste need to be interviewed in order to catalogue exactly what information they possess. �The Department of Environmental Health need to be assisted with the data entry, editing and verification of the information collected from the survey and also the upkeep of the Register. There is only one staff member currently assigned to this responsibility.