22 May 2015: The EU and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) convened a meeting of the Pacific Hazardous Waste Programme (PacWaste), to discuss the removal of asbestos from public buildings in 13 Pacific Island countries.

The meeting discussed the use of a US$2 million allocation from PacWaste toward minimizing asbestos-related diseases, through stabilizing, removing and replacing the use of asbestos in public buildings. Planned activities include training of waste workers and improving waste management and recycling programmes. SPREP estimates that a sum of US$113 will be needed to manage the asbestos legacy in the region.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advised instituting national asbestos control policies to minimize the entry of new asbestos sources into the countries.

The EU provides €7.85 million to PacWaste over four years up to 2017, focusing on four priorities: health care waste, asbestos waste, electronic waste (e-waste) and integrated atoll waste management. [SPREP Press Release] [PacWaste Webpage]