Azerbaijan continues reducing environmental pollution

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan started the implementation of a new phase of the program "EaP Green" of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization entitled "Resource efficiency and cleaner production."

This statement came from Rauf Rzayev, the national coordinator of the project in Azerbaijan, at the National Conference on resource efficiency and cleaner production in the manufacturing industry in Azerbaijan held in Baku.

"The main objective of this program, implemented in six countries is sustainable economic growth while reducing environmental pollution," Rzayev said.

This phase of the program, as the previous one, will cover three areas: food and chemical industries, as well as the construction sector. The selection of companies within this phase will begin in the next few days.

"As part of the previous phase of the program, our experts have evaluated eight companies operating in Azerbaijan. Four of them are working in Baku and the surrounding areas, and the rest in the regions of the country. Five of these companies manufacture products in the food industry, one in the chemical industry and two work in the construction industry," the coordinator said.

The first phase of the program began in mid 2014. The program aims to assist small and medium-sized enterprises to reduce production costs, ensure cleaner production, as well as protect the health of all workers at enterprises.

"According to experts, one of the companies that produce natural juices could reduce costs by 11,000 manat ($10,467) per year due to more efficient use of waste," he noted.

Moreover, he said, the implementation of projects for equipment replacement and other work proposed by experts will not require large expenditures. It will vary from 500 manats to several thousand manats.

Training of experts will continue in the second phase of the program as well.

Environmental pollution is a modern day danger that has not quite yet been taken seriously enough. Today, Azerbaijan is determined to work towards preserving the environmental and solving air pollution.