🇲🇺MauritiusEast Africa
Indian Ocean island nations address hazardous waste management for a circular economy
via Le Mauricien3 min read
Business Mauritius and the Indian Ocean Commission IOC are collaborating to engage businesses in the sustainable management of chemicals and hazardous waste. This initiative is part of the GEF-ISLANDS Indian Ocean regional project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme UNDP. The project supports companies in Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles to improve hazardous waste management, reduce environmental and health impacts, and promote non-toxic circular value chains. Business Mauritius, co-piloting the private sector component with the IOC, facilitates dialogue among stakeholders, identifies innovative solutions, and fosters experience sharing and partnerships. A recent meeting brought together businesses, experts, and partners to discuss challenges and solutions. Ralph Connery, international consultant for the GEF-ISLANDS project, highlighted the opportunities of a regional approach, citing initiatives like the Moana Taka shipping partnership in the Pacific for collecting and transporting hazardous waste. He emphasized the need to identify technically, economically, and regulatory viable regional solutions for the Indian Ocean, considering challenges in maritime transport, logistics costs, insurance, and compliance with the Basel Convention. Mauritian companies, including Cernol Taylor Smith Group and Ecostril, shared their experiences in chemical and medical waste management, respectively, along with discussions on lithium-ion battery reuse. Amandi
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