Country Project
Kiribati
Addressing legacy Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) on Banaba Island
Addressing legacy Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) on Banaba Island
Kiribati seeks to utilise PacWastePlus funds and assistance to meaningfully engage in the management of ACM on Banaba Island with the goal of ultimately removing from the island this risk to human health and the environment.
Project Description
Current Situation
Work done under the PacWaste program discovered significant amounts of ACM located at the former British Phosphate Company (BPC) and in other locations including residential properties [asbestos roofing material] on Banaba Island. Also noted in the assessment was the lack of infrastructure needed to address this issue, e.g., limited handling, excavation, and transport equipment, lack of appropriate ACM disposal facilities, and no trained ACM abatement personnel.
What is the Kiribati Project About?
The following proposed activities under the PacWastePlus project include:
• eliminate the importation of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials (ACM) into Kiribati
• abate ACM from sites prioritized as high risk on Banaba Island
• adopted an Action Plan for the management and eventual removal of legacy ACM from Banaba Island
Future Situation
Removal of ACM in Banaba Island will reduce exposure of the public to asbestos fibres, thereby reducing the incidence of disease and serious help conditions caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres. An Action Plan with costs to abate the remaining ACM located on Banaba Island will be available.
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Factsheet
Asbestos Management Brief: KIRIBATI
The PacWastePlus Regional Asbestos Project will support countries in executing solutions, both legislative and policy-driven, to prevent exposure to asbestos fibre, and thereby reduce asbestos-related diseases. This document provides guidance for Kiribati to progress work on the development and implementation of a National ACM ban with this resource providing background information, identifying policy and legislative options available.
Factsheet
Kiribati Project Profile – Addressing Legacy Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) on Banaba Island: Sound disposal, appropriate legislation and policies
Asbestos-containing materials are a major issue for many Pacific Island countries with a history of use of asbestos containing materials (ACM) in construction. All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans and inhalation of asbestos fibres that have become airborne can cause serious lung disease. Kiribati seeks to utilise PacWastePlus funds and assistance to meaningfully engage in the management of ACM on Banaba Island with the goal of ultimately removed from the island this risk to human health and the environment.
Factsheet
PacWastePlus Project Snapshot – Kiribati
There is large variability in the management of waste in Kiribati. The main island of Tarawa has three landfills, and there are two dumpsites (unregulated) located on Kiritimati Island. Household waste collection on Tarawa provided through municipal authorities, and a private Contractor oversees a pre-paid green bag collection. A Container Deposit recycling system exists on Tarawa, the ‘Kaoki Maange Recycling’ which has been in operation since 2004, collecting materials such as PET, aluminum, and lead-acid batteries. There are minimal collection services provided in the outer islands, as a result, waste is buried, burned, or disposed of at sea.
File Size: 1.84MB, 5 pages PDF document
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Adopt appropriate regulations and/or policy to eliminate the importation of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials into Kiribati
- Removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials from sites prioritized as high risk from Banaba Island
- Adopt an Action Plan which details the short- and long-term management options, and eventual removal, of asbestos containing materials from Banaba Island.
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Due to the island’s remoteness and the limited infrastructure, the cost to undertake abatement work on the island will be high, certainly in the millions of US dollars. Kiribati with PacWastePlus support can undertake additional focused assessments and risk evaluations to better define the abatement work needed.
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Removal of even small amounts of asbestos containing materials found in Banaba island will reduce exposure of the public to asbestos fibres, thereby reducing the incidence of disease.