Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Nurhan Izairi attended the the event of granting equipment for collection and recycling of cooling devices for free use by service operators of cooling devices. The equipment is granted by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning/Office for Ozone Layer Protection in the frames of the implementation of the Plan for ultimate elimination of HCFC substances.
Stressing that this activity is part of the long-term action for elimination of ozone depleting substances, through which more than 99% of their consumption in our country has been reduced, Minister Izairi pointed out that granting of 35 sets of equipment for collection and recycling of cooling devices for free use by service operators of cooling devices is the second campaign by which the cycle of activities related to the establishment of sustainable system for cooling devices management is finalized.
Under the first campaign, 18 service operators of cooling devices and 3 secondary schools obtained sophisticated equipment for cooling devices collection and recycling and according to the reports received last year, the quantity of collected and recycled cooling devices reached 14.000 kg.
In the frames of the implementation of the Plan for ultimate elimination of HCFC substances, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning provided financial resources for equipment for collection and recycling of cooling devices, in an amount of US$158.000 from the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol for ozone depleting substances.
Plan for management and elimination of HCFC substancesof the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planningduring the last three years
In the course of the Plan implementation, strong accent was placed on the training for HCFC management and control. In this context, training of three target groups was carried out: service operators of cooling devices, teachers in secondary schools and custom officers. During the training, 30 teachers from all secondary vocational schools acquired theoretical and practical knowledge generating staff for cooling devices servicing and more than 280 service operators of cooling devicesin good practices of servicing, collection and recycling of cooling fluids, as well as 100 custom officers from all customs offices on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia in adequate and fast control of these substances at all border-crossings on the territory of our country.
In parallel with this activity, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planningworks on harmonization of the national legislation with the one of the European Union. Interventions were made in the Law on Environment through specific provisions providing clear grounds for development of bylaws containing detailed provisions on the trade in HCFC substances, principles of cooling devices collection and recycling, as well as prevention of ozone layer depleting substances release into the atmosphere.
In order to facilitate the management of this group chemicals, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planningprepared technical manuals for good servicing practice and adequate control of these substances on border-crossings.
Furthermore, all vocational schools where trained staff works received demonstration equipment which facilitates practical training in the area of cooling and ventilation. We may note with pleasure that part of these schools have this area as part of their regular curriculum.
As far as servicing sector is concerned, this is the second time that the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planningenables directly involved stakeholders receive equipment for collection and recycling of cooling devices.