Citizens understand hazardous waste as only toxic chemicals. But even widely used batteries are hazardous. It is important that citizens have knowledge on possibilities to recycle their waste, Head of Environment and Natural Resource Management Department of the Ministry G.Nyamdavaa highlighted during the conference.

He also added that our country disposes medical waste at certain level, nevertheless, it cannot remove chemical agents. Therefore, having sites for burying and recycling hazardous waste is becoming a pressing issue for us.

Hence, it is impossible to export hazardous waste, there is necessity to recycle it at home and dispose in a way of not causing adverse impact to the nature. A survey says that the country produces 10 thousand tons of hazardous waste nationwide a year, of which only 10-20 percent are recycled.

“Revised law on Waste was adopted by the Parliament in 2017 and it became possible for GASI to oversee entities that produce hazardous waste. The entities are now aware of damage and importance of hazardous waste management,” said U.Ulziitsetseg, Senior environmental inspector at GASI.

At the end of the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, GASI and EBRD released recommendation on reduction of hazardous waste in Mongolia to submit it to the Cabinet and other relevant organizations.