On November 23, 2023, a Green Club's 5th meeting was held in the Asparez press club. The purpose of this meeting was to present to the Club members the “Module 5: Chemicals and Hazardous Wastes”.
The event was attended by 19 participants, including representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the region, the local government of the Gyumri community, the NGO sector, and the project staff of REC Caucasus, who serves as the National Implementing Partner.
Given that the Resource Efficiency and Clean Production (RECP) program is designed to enhance the environmental performance and resource efficiency of SMEs, thereby fostering sustainable industrial development, employment, and income levels, addressing the environmental and health issues associated with the use of chemicals and the disposal of hazardous waste becomes highly pertinent.
The speakers, project experts T. Oganezov and D. Sahakyan, thoroughly examined the issues raised in the previous four meetings of SME participants in the Green Club at their enterprises. The inquiries primarily focused on the environmental aspects of SMEs, including energy conservation, waste reduction, efficient use of raw materials, and safety practices. Once again, participants engaged in a detailed discussion of the RAMA methodology, exploring its specific applications in these domains.
During the meeting, D. Sahakyan adeptly addressed critical concerns related to the utilization of chemicals in production processes and the subsequent generation of hazardous waste. The presentation delved into the advantages of implementing chemical conservation practices and elucidated the underlying reasons behind the formation and neutralization of hazardous waste.
The discourse extended to the exploration of business challenges intricately linked to chemical usage and the management of hazardous waste. Comprehensive strategies for mitigating these challenges were discussed, with a particular emphasis on practical methods for implementing data collection tables. These tables are designed to systematically gather information on the utilization of chemicals and the ensuing hazardous waste, providing a structured approach to address these issues within the business framework.
Additionally, the presentation featured real-life business cases, showcasing how Armenian organizations, beneficiaries of RECP, have effectively harnessed chemical materials and generated hazardous waste to their advantage.
At the end of the session Green Club Facilitator explained the next steps of the Green Club, assignments for the next workshop, and data collection on Chemical materials and Hazardous Waste management in the participant’s organizations.
After the meeting, the RECP Green Clubs Technical Experts team conducted a visit to “Mur Har” LLC operating in Gyumri, Shirak Marz, identified as participants of the Green Clubs initiative. The purpose of these visits was to familiarize themselves with the production capabilities of these enterprises and conduct an initial/preliminary assessment of their activities
