Chemicals and Chemical Waste Management

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ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, INCLUDING PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL INDIVIDUAL AND LOCAL TRAFFIC IN TOXIC AND DANGEROUS PRODUCTS

We are still just understanding the long-range effects of pollution, extending even to the fundamental chemical and physical processes of the Earth’s atmosphere and climate. Individual and local efforts can be beneficial to achieve an environmentally sound management of chemicals. Restoration of the planetary ecosystem includes an exploration and sharing of available alternatives as well as development of new techniques.

OVERVIEW

  • Expanding understanding of chemical risks
  • Information exchange on toxic chemicals and alternatives
  • Chemical risk management
  • Chemical waste management
  • Dangerous product and illegal chemicals management

People's Agenda 21, Ideas for the betterment of humanity, serving the highest good of all


EXPANDING UNDERSTANDING OF CHEMICAL RISKS

Community collaboration on chemical safety can be the nucleus for individual and local cooperation on environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals. The principle of the right of the community and of workers to know those risks can be recognized. The ability of informed citizenry and other concerned community members to assess, advocate and mitigate the risks to human health and the environmental hazards that a chemical may cause in their own communities is a prerequisite to planning for its safe and beneficial use.

Ideas for those interested in implementation


INFORMATION EXCHANGE ON TOXIC CHEMICALS AND ALTERNATIVES

Local activities related to information exchange on the benefits as well as the risks associated with the use of chemicals and aimed at enhancing the sound management of toxic chemicals can be achieved through the exchange of scientific, technical, economic and legal information.

Ideas for those interested in implementation

  
CHEMICAL RISK MANAGEMENT

There are often alternatives to toxic chemicals currently in use. Risk reduction on a local level can be achieved by using other chemicals or even non-chemical technologies.  Community approaches could encompass include the use of cleaner products and technologies, pollution prevention ideas and programs, emission inventories, product labeling, use limitations, economic incentives, ideas for safe handling and exposure regulations, and the phasing out or banning of chemicals that pose unreasonable and otherwise unmanageable risks to human health and the environment and of those that are toxic, persistent and bio-accumulative and whose use cannot be adequately controlled.

Ideas for those interested in implementation

  • Help support individual and local poison control centers in your community to ensure prompt and adequate diagnosis and treatment of poisonings
  • Help reduce overdependence on the use of agricultural chemicals by using and supporting alternative farming practices, integrated pest management and other appropriate means
  • Help to identify, assess, reduce and minimize, or eliminate hazardous chemicals by making environmentally sound disposal practices, risks from storage decisions in your home and community
  • Help exchange information on individual, local and regional activities to reduce the risks of toxic chemicals

 
CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

A multiagency approach will support the involvement of all parties in chemical safety activities (for example, agriculture, environment, education, industry, labor, health, transportation, police, civil defense, economic affairs, research institutions, and poison control centers).  In  locations with systems in place there is an opportunity to make those systems more efficient on the local level.

Ideas for those interested in implementation

  • Dispose of chemicals properly http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/dispose-toxic-household-chemicals-safely.htm
  • Consider cooperating with individual and local organizations in your area to effectively monitor and control the generation, manufacturing, distribution, transportation and disposal activities relating to toxic chemicals
  • Consider helping in the development of community right-to-know or other public information-dissemination programs as possible risk reduction tools where you live


DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT

Effective chemical management on a local level includes reinforcing individual and local capacities to detect and halt any illegal attempt to introduce toxic and dangerous products. This can be done on a local level by empowering people in all locations, particularly developing locations, in obtaining all appropriate information concerning illegal traffic in toxic and dangerous products. Communities then can responsibly
explore, develop and implement actions to prevent the illegal import and export of toxic and dangerous products.

Ideas for those interested in implementation

  • Help your community develop appropriate individual and local enforcement programs to monitor compliance with chemical management, and detect and deter violations through appropriate penalties
  • Help your community by cooperating with developing locations to help  prevent illegal import and export of toxic and dangerous products

People's Agenda 21, Ideas for the betterment of humanity, serving the highest good of all