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By Shenequa Williams
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda, in partnership with the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the Caribbean (BCRC–Caribbean), hosted a National Priority Workshop on Hazardous Waste Management today, October 2, 2025, at the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute (ABHTI), Osbourn.
The workshop formed part of the GEF ISLANDS Programme, which promotes sustainable and non-chemical development across twelve Caribbean nations.
Antigua and Barbuda is currently implementing Output 2.2, focused on the development of a National Hazardous Waste Strategy and Roadmap.
This strategy seeks to strengthen the policy and institutional baseline, assess national capacity, and chart clear actions for managing priority waste streams, including PCBs/POPs wastes, obsolete pesticides, PFAS-containing foams, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), used lead-acid batteries (ULABs), waste oils, and healthcare waste.
During the session, national representatives underscored the importance of confronting hazardous waste challenges head-on. They noted that while Antigua and Barbuda is known for its natural beauty, the country must also reckon with the rising risks posed by hazardous waste.
“Hazardous waste is not a problem that disappears on its own. It is a national risk and a shared responsibility,” one presenter emphasized. Special attention was drawn to medical waste, which remains a challenge as it is not always properly categorized or treated.
The issue, they highlighted, is not unique to Antigua and Barbuda but one that affects the wider Caribbean region.
The workshop therefore served as both a validation and planning forum, allowing stakeholders to confirm the accuracy of collected data, identify and rank existing gaps, and begin setting short-, medium-, and long-term priorities for waste management.
The agenda featured presentations on the initial assessment of national hazardous waste management capacity, as well as outcomes from sectoral consultations and field visits.
Participants also engaged in discussions on how to prioritize the most pressing waste issues, paving the way for the next phase of roadmap validation and endorsement.
The session concluded with a Country Engagement Forum, led by BCRC–Caribbean, which provided an overview of regional activities and offered stakeholders the opportunity to give direct feedback.
By bringing together government agencies, technical experts, and local stakeholders, today’s workshop marked an important step in strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s hazardous waste management framework under the ISLANDS Programme.
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Antigua and Barbuda is taking a vital step toward safer waste management and stronger environmental protection.