Summary of Preparatory Study

Transcription

1 Summary of Preparatory Study ate: September 9, Title of the Cooperation Project Waste Minimization and Recycling Promotion Project 2. Categorization and its reason Environmental Category: B The proposed project includes a pilot project of a partial improvement of existing landfill and promotion of 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Return) 1. A partial improvement of existing landfill is planned to be implemented in a small scale (1~2ha), and significant adverse impacts on environment and society are not expected. However, if the amount of recyclable wastes dumped in an existing landfill is drastically reduced by 3R, it may have adverse impacts on livelihood of wastepickers in the existing landfill. 3. Agency or institution responsible for the implementation of the project epartment of Environment, Lautoka City Council, and Nadi Town Council 4. Outline of the Project Overall Goal 3R (Reduce, Reuse, and Return) is progressed in Fiji, mainly in Western ivision Proposed Activities Promotion of 3R The focus of the project is to develop a model of waste minimization for Fiji by introducing 3R concept. The 3R promotion activity includes, establishment of small scale recycle stations in each community, installation of home compost facilities, and implementation of educational activities in communities. 3R is planned to be implemented as a pilot project first, then, basing on the results of the pilot project, it will be implemented in entire area of Lautoka city and Nadi town. Pilot project site has not been selected yet, it will be selected based on the results of a field survey. A partial improvement of existing Lautoka landfill The project includes another pilot project, which is a partial improvement of existing Lautoka landfill, in order to demonstrate proper waste disposal. It includes construction of dikes, installation of pipes, etc. As the pilot project is positioned just as a demonstration, its scale is small (around 1 ~ 1 In general 3R is known as the acronym of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle which illustrates the principle of minimizing waste. Project proposes a new interpretation of 3R as Reduce, Reuse and Return for a small island countries like Fiji, since, in those countries, it is difficult to recycle imported materials and goods within their own countries because of the geographical isolation and uneconomically small size of the recycle market, and those materials can be recycled only by returning to the market places in industrialized or large countries. 1

2 2ha). Location Lautoka City, and Nadi Town which is located in western division of Fiji. 5. escription of the project site Site of 3R promotion The project will be implemented in Lautoka City and Nadi Town which is located in western division of Fiji. 3R pilot project site has not been selected yet, it will be selected based on the results of the field survey at the beginning of the Project. Site of a partial improvement of existing Lautoka landfill There was previously a mangrove swamp area owned by the government, where is currently Lautoka landfill. To this day, dumping area is spreading in north and west of existing landfill area. Lease contract for landfill has been signed on around 50 ha as a whole. The landfill area has been gradually enlarged within 40 years, and it reaches around 16 ha (the clear boundary is not known). There are industrial zone of Lautoka city to the east of the landfill across the Namoli creek. The entrance of the access road to Lautoka landfill can be reached within 5 minutes by car from the centre of Lautoka city. The land along the access road is Fijian Native Land, and there are houses and fields. There are waste pickers, who collect and sell recyclable wastes, in Lautoka landfill. Most of them are Native Fijian living in Vunato community which is located along the access road to the landfill. Lautoka city council introduced a registration system of wastepickers in January Representatives of the wastepickers are required to register, and to renew the registration every month by paying 100 FJ. As of November 2007, two groups were registered (one more group was to be registered), and about twenty people engaged in collection of recyclable wastes in the landfill. After the introduction of a registration system, frequency of fire (open incineration) in the landfill was significantly reduced. At the same time of installation of registration system, administrative structure of the landfill was strengthened by prohibiting residing in landfill and by implementing administrative management 24 hours per day. Under strengthening of administrative management of the landfill, four former wastepickers were employed as security guards (two for daytime, and two for night), and one was employed as a gate keeper. 6. Legal Framework of Environmental and Social Considerations (1) Laws, regulations and standards The practice in environmental assessment had been operated as a part of development application basing on Town & Country Planning Act until Environmental Management Act (EMA) was in effects in EIA, waste management, and pollution control were legislated by EMA

3 As of November 2007, the Environmental Management Regulation, which includes detailed regulations of EIA, is in the final stage of Cabinet consideration. If the consideration goes smoothly, EIA process will be put in execution since the fiscal year of According to EMA 2005, projects are divided into 3 types; category A (EIA is required), B (EIA or IEE is required), and C (neither EIA nor IEE is required). A brief procedure of EIA is as follows. 1 A proponent applies to planning division of a municipal council or town council or local office called Rural Local Authority under Ministry of Health. The authority received the application decides whether EIA is required or not. 2 If EIA is required, scoping is done by epartment of Environment, and TOR of EIA is provided. 3 The proponent implements EIA and prepares the report. 4 The report is opened to the public, and reviewed by technical officers. Additional study is conducted if necessary, and the report is approved (or rejected). 5 Based on the approval or rejection of EIA report, response to the application of development project is given by epartment of Urban Planning. If the application is rejected, proponents can appeal a ruling within 21 days basing on EMA Since the proposed project includes a partial improvement of the existing landfill, it is necessary to confirm whether EIA or IEE is required or not. According to an EIA unit s official, EIA will not be required to the proposed project, as it s a partial improvement which is going to be implemented inside the existing landfill. When the project starts, requirement of EIA or IEE is to be confirmed in accordance to EIA procedure. (2) Relative agencies and institutions epartment of Environment under Ministry of Lands, Mineral Resources & Environment plays the major role in environment policy in Fiji. As of November 2007, there were twenty staffs in the department. As indicated in the following figure, there is an EIA unit, which consists of one P, one S and two s in epartment of Environment. The organization system for EIA has been steadily improved, however it is pointed out that delays in EIA procedure are caused frequently due to staff shortage. 3

4 Figure 1: Organization chart of epartment of Environment Minister Permanent Secretary irector of Environment Ministry of Lands, Mineral Resources & Environment epartment of Environment Technical Support Services Section General Administration Policy Formulation Principal Environment Officer (P) EIA and Waste & Pollution Control P Conservation and Projects Senior Legal Officer EIA Unit Waste Unit Awareness Unit Conservation Unit Projects Legal Officer Senior EIA Acting Senior Waste Senior Awareness&Conservatio OS Peace Corp 7. Adverse Environmental and Social Impacts Social Environment Table 1: Checklist for Scoping Impact Items etails Rating Reasons 01 Involuntary resettlement Movement due to possession of land (transfer of residency / land ownership rights) resettlement is not required. 02 Economic Loss of production C Activities opportunities in land etc., and other changes to economic structure Land acquisition is not required since the project is a partial improvement of an existing landfill. There is no resident in Lautoka landfill, therefore involuntary Partial improvement will be done within an existing landfill, and the impacts on public economic activities are not expected. However, there are wastepickers who are collecting recyclable wastes in the landfill area under license from Lautoka City Council. If the amount of recyclable wastes is reduced drastically as a result of 3R conducted by the project, recyclables dumped in the landfill will be reduced and it may affects their livelihoods. It is necessary to give proper attention to the wastepickers. 4

5 Natural Environment 03 Traffic/Publ ic Facilities 04 Split of Communiti es 05 Cultural Property 06 Water Rights and Rights of Common 07 Public Health Conditions Increase in number of accidents due to traffic congestion, and impact on schools / hospitals Split of communities through transport blockages estruction or loss in value to religious buildings or underground cultural assets isruption of fishing rights / irrigation rights / access rights to mountains and forests Worsening health and sanitation conditions, due to waste products of occurrence of vermin 08 Wastes Emissions of waste construction products, leftover soil, incinerator ash etc. 09 isaster (Risk) 10 Topography and Geology 11 Soil Erosion 12 Groundwate r Increased risk of accident such as ground collapse / falling rocks Changes of valuable geography or geology due to excavation / earth filling Topsoil erosion after rain, due to land construction / logging Pollution of groundwater due to seepage There are no schools and hospitals around the landfill. Significant increase of vehicles for transfer of waste and for construction is not expected. Split of communities due to prohibition of traffic is not expected, since the increase of vehicle caused by the project is a little. There is no cultural property in and around the landfill. No impact is expected since the landfill area is leased to Lautoka City Council from the government, and the partial improvement of the landfill will be implemented inside the landfill area. After partial improvement of the landfill, soil covering will be done in the area on a regular basis. Thus vermination will be prevented partially and sanitation will be improved. Construction waste generated by the project will be properly disposed in the landfill site. Incineration of waste is not planned. Since there was previously a mangrove field where there is currently the landfill, the ground of the edge of landfill area is fragile, and sufficient attention is necessary. However, the partial improvement is planned to be implemented in a small area on the landward side. Thus, the risk is small. Any valuable geography or geology is not found in the landfill area. The partial improvement of the landfill is going to be implemented inside the existing landfill, and land reclamation is not required by the project. No land reclamation or logging is planned in the project. Leachate treatment facility and liners will be installed within partial improvement of the landfill. Groundwater pollution, if it has caused already, will be alleviated. 13 Hydrologic Changes in flow or Adverse impact such as increased flow of 5

6 Pollution al Situation riverbed due to landfill of wastewater incursion 14 Coastal Changes of Zone coastline or coastal vegetation as a result of land filling 15 Fauna and Obstruction of Flora propagation or extermination of species due to 16 Meteorolog y changes of habitat. Changes of temperature or wind conditions due to large-scale land development or construction of buildings 17 Landscape Geographical changes due to land development or destruction of 18 Air Pollution 19 Water Pollution 20 Soil Contaminati on 21 Noise and Vibration harmony of landscape due to construction of new buildings Pollution caused by emissions from vehicles / plant, and by hazardous gases Pollution caused by soil or plant emissions flow into rivers / groundwater Pollution caused by incinerator ash / emissions and dispersal of non-burnable waste etc. Noise / vibration caused by collection vehicles and processing plant wastewater flowed into the creek around the landfill and the change of the riverbed is not predicted. A partial improvement of the landfill does not include logging or reclamation of mangrove field. Thus, any adverse impact on coastal vegetation is expected. There is no natural park or natural reserves around the landfill. Neither rare species nor endangered species are not found. Large-scale land development or construction of buildings which has adverse impact on meteorology is not planned in the project. New land development such as enlargement of the landfill area is not planned. Large geographic change which damages the landscape is not planned either. (Planned activity in a partial improvement of the landfill is construction of one meter high dikes within the area of one or two ha of the landfill.) Increase of emission gas owning to construction vehicles and heavy equipments is just a little. Greenhouse effect gas such as methane gas will be reduced due to partial improvement of the landfill. Pollution caused by soil or plant emissions flow into rivers or ground water is not expected in a partial improvement of the landfill. Incineration is not planned. Covering soil will be done on a regular basis and it prevents emissions and dispersal of non-burnable waste. Although there are resident areas along the access road to the landfill, the increase of collection and construction vehicles will be very little. The resident areas mentioned above is far enough from the landfill (about 600m by airline distance), thus few adverse impact such 6

7 22 Land subsidence 23 Offensive Odor Surface subsidence due to ground subsidence and decline of groundwater level Odors from waste and emission gas from incinerator as noise and vibration is expected. Groundwater pumping is not planned in the project. No plans for incineration. Partial improvement of the landfill includes installation of gas pipes, leachate treatment facility and covering soil, and thus odor will be reduced by those activities. Rating: A-Serious impact is expected, B-Some impact is expected, C-Extent of impact is unknown (Examination is needed. Impacts may become clear as study progresses, -No impact is expected. 8. Mitigation and Monitoring for Key Impacts Social environment economic activities (Loss of production opportunities) Rating: C Partial improvement will be done within the existing landfill and its scale is small, thus the impacts on public economic activities are not expected. However, 3R promotion, which may leads to reduction of recyclable wastes in the Lautoka landfill, may have adverse impacts on the livelihood of the existing wastepickers. The 3R promotion activities are to be implemented as a pilot project before it is implemented in entire area of two municipalities. Since the pilot project of 3R promotion is to be implemented in a limited area, drastic reduction of recyclable wastes dumped in the landfill is not expected. However, at the moment, it is not exactly known how much the recyclable wastes dumped in the existing landfill will be reduced when 3R activities are implemented in entire area of two municipalities. Therefore, it is planned to monitor the pilot 3R project in terms of the amount of reduction of recyclable wastes dumped in the landfill, and based on the results, the impacts on the wastepickers are to be forecasted. Scoping is going to be done again, and as necessary, mitigation measures are going to be considered. As one of the mitigation measures of adverse impacts on wastepickers livelihood, it is proposed to hire wastepickers in operational management of the landfill. This is already implemented, but provision of additional job opportunities is required. Followings are suggested as additional job opportunities for wastepickers. Subsidiary for operation of a shredder machine (if it is installed) Laborers in compost area Laborers in recycle station Subsidiary for operation of truck scales 9. Consultation Stakeholders of the project would include, epartment of Environment, Lautoka City Council, Nandi town council, private collectors, recycle companies, ordinary citizens, tourists, wastepickers 7

8 in Lautoka landfill, etc. It is crucial to build a consensus through dialogue among those stakeholders. 10. Social Acceptability in case of involving Involuntary Resettlement and Land Acquisition Involuntary resettlement and land acquisition are not caused by the proposed project. 8