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Pollution prevention in the Moroccan agro-processing industry
For the US Agency for International Development's Project in Development and Environment (PRIDE), ECODIT evaluated strategy options for pollution prevention by the agro-processing industry in Morocco (sugar plants, olive oil mills, canneries). ECODIT reviewed data on pollution generated by agro-processing plants, previous pollution prevention efforts or efforts currently underway, and the institutional and legal framework for pollution abatement efforts. ECODIT analyzed these data and conducted environmental audits of one sugar plant and one olive oil mill to estimate the potential for pollution prevention in these industrial sectors. Drawing on the US experience in this area, ECODIT suggested a series of measures to speed up the process of pollution prevention in the agro-processing industry in Morocco. These measures include economic and financial actions (increased water prices, investment incentives), awareness activities (pollution prevention audits), and training.
USTDA desk study on Costa Rica oil sludge project
For the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), ECODIT conducted a desk study to evaluate a proposal by Kiber Environmental (dba Kiber International) for a feasibility study to assess the construction of a facility that would process oil sludge waste from vessels in the Port of Limón and Moin. The facility would recycle the sludge by using two new technologies (DCR asphalt technology and Cement-Lock) to make asphalt and concrete. ECODIT reviewed the technical and financial proposal, contacted key players in the project and conducted interviews on the technology and the current economic and environmental situation in Costa Rica. ECODIT concluded that, prior to a feasibility study, a market assessment of the availability of sludge waste, tipping fees, and actual demand for the products generated by the facility needed to be undertaken.
Evaluation of industrial pollution in the Mohammedia-Casablanca region of Morocco
For Morocco's Ministry of Environment (MOE), ECODIT conducted an evaluation of industrial pollution in the Mohammedia-Casablanca region. The study was financed by a grant from the World Bank and the European Investment Bank through the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP). ECODIT conducted pollution prevention and control audits of the 10 most polluting industrial facilities in the region (petrochemical, fertilizer, detergent, oil refining, thermal power, food processing, tannery, aluminum, electroplating). Before the audits, ECODIT worked with MOE to select industrial facilities to be audited. ECODIT organized a pollution prevention workshop with facility decision-makers and plant managers to discuss the objectives of the study, describe pollution prevention techniques and benefits, and introduce the audits questionnaire. After the audits, ECODIT prepared draft audit reports and organized a public consultation to discuss preliminary audit findings. ECODIT then prepared draft action plans for each of the 10 facilities and a draft action plan for the Mohammedia-Casablanca region with institutional and follow-up components. Finally, ECODIT organized a public meeting to sign the action plans.
Municipal Coastal Environment Initiative (MCEI) in the Philippines
ECODIT is a subcontractor to Chemonics on the MCEI project for the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (financed by USAID with a budget of $8 million over four years). The project aims at reducing the gaseous, liquid, and solid wastes of the coastal industries in the Philippines. One of its objectives is to reduce by 20 percent the industrial pollution of 400 factories located in the coastal zone (Dumeugete, Bohol, Visayas, and Cebu). The MCEI project will organize training workshops for industries on pollution prevention techniques, environmental management, and ISO 14000. Providing ISO 14001 certification to 200 factories is another objective of the MCEI project. In addition, the MCEI project will strengthen the institutional capacity of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Trade and Industry to implement the environmental agenda, protect the coastal and marine ecosystems, promote a more sustainable industrial development.
Prevention and control of industrial pollution in Syria
ECODIT is assisting UNDP and Syria's Ministry of Irrigation in reducing industrial pollution in the upper Orontes river through the implementation of environmental management practices and systems that comply with international standards. ECODIT has designed pilot projects that will reduce water consumption by reusing treated effluents and prevent pollution from an oil refinery, a fertilizer unit, and a sugar company. The pilot projects will implement environmental management systems in each plant and prepare the plants for ISO 14000 certification. The goal of these projects is to develop local capacity to promote, support, and replicate the implementation of environmental management standards in Syria. ECODIT has conducted two training workshops on environmental management systems and ISO 14000 certification.
Recycling of chromium effluents from tanneries in Morocco
For the Water Resources Sustainability activity, ECODIT has designed and built Morocco's first chromium recovery facility in Fez. This facility receives the tanning baths from 16 tanneries in the Dokkarat industrial zone, recovers the chromium from the baths through precipitation and acidification, and sells it back to the tanneries for reuse. The sale of chromium covers the facility's operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. ECODIT has established a partnership among local and central stakeholders, including the local sanitation company, and has helped the partnership negotiate a cost-sharing agreement. The facility has reduced by 90 percent the quantity of chromium discharged by the tanneries into the sewer and the river.
Industrial pollution prevention in Vietnam
For the World Bank, ECODIT completed a study to initiate an Industrial Pollution Prevention program in Vietnam. ECODIT visited four industrial plants (two paper mills, a caustic soda plant, and a plywood plant) located in the two largest industrial zones in Vietnam: Viet Tri and Bien Hoa. ECODIT also outlined a national action plan recommending both the creation of a Task Force led by the State Planning Committee and the Ministry of Environment and a training program to initiate the managers of this entity to pollution prevention principles and techniques. For this study, ECODIT reviewed the new environmental standards promulgated by the Ministry of Environment in March of 1995. These new standards were adapted from the Singapore standards and distinguish between new and existing facilities.
Industrial pollution study in Bénin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria
ECODIT has provided technical assistance to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Governments of Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria in establishing a program to reduce industrial discharges and protect the Large Marine Ecosystem of Gulf of Guinea. Textile, brewing, palm oil, rubber and petroleum are the primary industries of concern. ECODIT visited seven plants in those industrial sectors as well as laboratories and discussed current industrial pollution prevention and control efforts undertaken by the Governments of Bénin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. Based on these visits and meetings, ECODIT developed an action and monitoring plan to inventory and characterize industrial discharges and train local industrial managers in environmental auditing, wastewater pretreatment and treatment, sampling and analysis, and clean technologies.
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