Facilitating Investments in Solid Waste Management

Hirado City, Japan — The 2010 NOWPAP International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) and Workshop on Marine Litter was convened 26-28 March in Hirado City, Japan. The event was attended by the representatives from the National Focal Points and governmental officials from related ministries of the four NOWPAP member countries (namely, PR China, Japan, RO Korea and Russia), partner organizations, NOWPAP Regional Activity Centers and Regional Coordination Unit.

 

The activity was also attended by the Mayor of Hirado Municipal Government, representatives from Nagasaki Prefecture and Hirado Municipality, and various stakeholders including local nongovernmental organizations and citizens of Hirado City.The workshop reviewed the ICC campaigns in the NOWPAP region and shared the lessons and experiences learned. After the presentations, Dr. Alexandar Tkalin, Coordinator of NOWPAP RCU posed the question on the necessity and meaning of the NOWPAP ICC campaigns. Considering the transboundary nature of marine litter and importance of enhancing public awareness, the expectation that the NOWPAP ICC campaigns be continued was expressed by the workshop participants.At the Session focusing on Solid Waste Management, Ms. Kazumi Wakita, Programme Officer of the PEMSEA Resource Facility, delivered a presentation on the work of PEMSEA on facilitating investments in solid waste management through ICM. The case studies of Bali (Indonesia) and Preah Sihanouk (Cambodia) were presented to the participants. Ms. Wakita emphasized that ICM is an effective tool for developing the necessary policy and investment climate at the local government level that is conducive to investment by the private sector. She further outline how it establishes multisectoral partnerships between local governments, civil society and the private sector for planning, financing, constructing, operating and managing the required environmental facilities and services on a long term, self-sustaining basis.