Projects
USAID/EAST/JMA Resource Centre for Cleaner Production
Project Date: 11 June, 2004
Between 1999 and 2004 the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Environmental Audits for Sustainable Tourism (EAST) Project worked with the members of the Jamaica Manufactures’ Association Ltd. (JMA) to implement to improve their environmental management practices and performance. The EAST project conducted 22 environmental audits for manufacturing companies which included J. Wray and Nephew, Appleton Distillery, Dairy Industries, H.D Hopwood, BARCO, EDGECHEM, LASCO FOODS, Produce to Products Sun Island, Master Blends, Gauron Food Products Ltd., JALEX Manufacturing Company LTD, Jamaica Drink Company, GRACE (Canning) and Jamaica Broilers. Manufacturers who have benefited from environmental audits can vouch for the positive impacts recommendations implemented have had on generating costs savings and improving their environmental performance.
The Project also provided funding for workshops on Environmental Management Systems, Trade and Environmental Laws, Regulations and voluntary standards and a study tour in November 2002 to Miami, Florida to visit facilities that were ISO 140001 certified, in the process of preparing for ISO 14001 or had implemented an EMS. Facilities visited include Montenay Power Corporation, facility providing electricity to sections of Dade County from garbage and the Department of Environmental Resource Management, which has implemented a Pollution Prevention project with several facilities using fines to assist their retrofitting.RESOURCE CENTRE FOR CLEANER PRODUCTION
In 2004 the first-ever Resource Centre for Cleaner Production in the Caribbean was officially opened at the JMA Head Office, Kingston, Jamaica. The Resource Centre for Cleaner Production was designed to serve as a resource base on energy conservation, waste management, pollution control, water conservation, eco- friendly manufacturing processes; provide training tools on environmental management systems and best practices; and provide information on Jamaican and international environmental regulations.
In June of 2005 EAST project funding came to an end. However, in recognition of those companies who continue to improve their environmental performance, the EAST trophy was renamed the USAID Award for the Best Environmental Management Programme for the JMA member who has demonstrated commitment to reduce and improve their environmental performance with the implementation of water and energy conservation projects and solid waste management projects. The USAID Award for the Best Environmental Management Programme is presented at the JMA’s Annual Awards Banquet.
Sponsored in part by the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPSCo).