Parliament pushes to control littering and waste disposal [1]
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 22:23. Updated on Thursday, February 16, 2017 - 09:16.
From the House by Pesi Fonua
The Tonga Parliament passed the Environment Management (Litter and Waste Control) Regulations 2016, yesterday, 13 February with votes of 17-0; one small step to improve awareness of the environment and Climate Change.
The Litter and Waste Control Regulations will enable government to enforce the Hazardous Wastes and Chemicals Act 2010 that was enacted on 27 August 2010.
The Act and its Regulations give government the authority to change what has been considered as normal by some individuals, private companies and even government ministries to set fire to confiscated goods, dump rubbish in public places, on beaches and in other people’s properties.
The issue is a major concern for Tonga. Since we are supposed to be one of the world's most vulnerable countries facing the devastating impact of Climate Change. While Tonga holds out one hand to the rest of the world for assistance from climate change funding, with the other hand we are destroying our environment and helping to fuel climate change.
It was not long ago that a container of rotten chicken was dumped near a cliff on the south coast of Tongatapu supervised by government officials. A a government Ministry set fire to a confiscated container of cigarettes using old vehicles tyres as fuel.
The dumping of not only plastic nappies but also old vehicles, fridges, computers on beaches, bush land and in swampy areas, is part of modernization and progress that we seem to have embraced.
In parliament this week members were unanimous in their desire for the Act to be enforced, but Lord Nuku asked for more time to consult the public because there are still a number areas with very fine lines on what people can set fire to and what they can’t. For example:
- Can farmers set fire to their properties to prepare their land for the planting season?
- Can people make their ‘Umu (earth oven), a practice that most families in Tonga do on Sundays?
- Can families make huge funeral ‘Umu?
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, “yes they can.”
Unfortunately, to get some of these fires going it has become a common practice to use fossil fuel and old tyres which release toxic fumes.
Under Clause 9 of the Regulation – Restrictions on burning litter and waste:
- Any person who burns litter or other waste in a manner or at a place which causes any nuisance to any person commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $200.
- Any person who burns litter or other waste and causes or permits the spread of fire in any manner so as to burn any area of land, any structure or any living vegetation comm its an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $500 and in liable to pay compensation for any damage so caused.