CSD-19

MGCY WASTE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

10 May 2011

Thank you Mr Chair for the floor. We, the Major Group of Children and Youth, would like to call your attention to the following amendments, which highlight issues particularly important to children and youth. 1. We support the current draft of paragraph 31b, particularly the inclusion of disaster debris planning. In paragraph 37, however, there is an important opportunity to highlight the need for capacity building and technology transfer for effective and environmentally sound waste management in post-disaster and post-crisis areas. 2. Further, we support language in paragraph 31c that calls attention to the occupational health and safety of workers in the waste sector, especially children. The improvement of occupational health and safety is vital for all formal and informal waste workers, in particular for those living and working in the midst of poverty. From scavengers and rag-pickers, to temporary workers who sort materials at recycling facilities, the health and well-being of waste workers is too often threatened. We, therefore, recommend a wording change in the paragraph -- 31c -- from "tackling" to "improving" occupational health and safety. We urge delegations to support paragraphs 31b and 31c as mentioned, and hope for an international consensus to strengthen the text. Thank you again Mr Chair.