GHD helps improve management of pesticide containers in the Pacific

In many Pacific Island countries, used pesticide containers are reused for water storage or burned, posing high risks for human health and the environment.

Leading employee-owned company, GHD, has been recognised at the 2018 National Project Management Achievement Awards for its delivery of the Pesticide Container Management in the Pacific project.

GHD was engaged by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Program to improve the management of used pesticide containers in the region in alignment with the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The project team conducted baseline surveys of pesticide container management in 14 Pacific Island countries, and developed an integrated waste management strategy for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, including a legislative review.

The project’s complexity was increased due to the need to consider sustainable changes to waste management practices within the constraints of small island countries. Having identified a preferred waste management model, GHD recommended that the model be trialled in one country, refined and then expanded across the Pacific region.

“This award is a great recognition of the project management skills GHD brings to international development assistance work, including our ability to successfully coordinate the efforts of team members across multiple countries,” says Daniel Todd, GHD’s Manager – Environmental Services in Western Australia.

GHD progressed to the national awards after winning this category at the state awards for Western Australia in August.