Kathmandu, February 21:

Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help four South Asian countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal — to improve their management of hazardous waste with a grant of $400,000.

The technical assistance (TA) project will help assess hazardous waste problems; draft policy rules to manage waste and report on the potential for private sector involvement, states a press release.

“The project will help strengthen cooperation between the four countries, through the sharing of knowledge and identifying ways to use common facilities for safely treating, transporting, and disposing of hazardous waste,” says Dewi Utami, an ADB senior environment specialist.

Nepal has undertaken several studies and participated in workshops on the issue.

The next step will be to develop policies under its Environmental Protection Act, according to the ADB press release.

“Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal will benefit from India’s experiences in regulating waste. Ultimately, the four countries should be able to come up with compatible rules on managing hazardous waste. It may also be one day feasible to have common treatment facilities.”

Problems associated with the management of hazardous waste vary in the four countries.

In Bangladesh, industrial pollution is a major environmental concern. Although an Environment Act and rules have been put in place, a clear strategy and policy have not yet been established.

“In Bhutan, which still boasts a pristine environment such problems are only just starting to emerge. As the country lacks institutional and legal frameworks, a system is needed to maintain public health,” states the release.

India, on the other hand, has a comprehensive regulatory and institutional framework, as well as technical guidelines to handle various types of hazardous waste.

However, more appropriate and modern facilities are needed for disposal.

The technical assistance project will review India’s regulations and identify ways it can reuse and recycle waste.

The project will also design training on preparing waste inventories and developing technical

and procedural guidelines for waste treatment and storage, and disposal facilities.

The cost of the programme is estimated at $424,000 of which the participating governments will provide $24,000. The project is due for completion around January 2008.