A Gap Analysis in Selected Asian Countries, 3R Knowledge Hub ...

for health settings but the principles of health
cities have been in place in the country for many
years. Relevant legislations to environmental
health in Brunei include: Petroleum Mining Act
(1992), Forest Act, Water Supply Act, Poison Act,
Town and Country Planning, Ports Act, Land
Code, Agriculture, Pest and Noxious Plant Act
and Infectious Disease Order (2003).
Findings
The following are three healthcare waste
incinerators in Brunei Darussalam
• RIPAS Hospital in Bandar Seri Begawan
• Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait
• Penaga Hospital in Seria
Healthcare waste incinerator used in Brunei is
composed of a primary chamber operating
between 810 0 C – 9230 0 C, an after burner or a
secondary chamber at a temperature of 980 0 C –
1090 0 C. The operating temperatures ensure
complete combustion of wastes.
Based on the environmental health profile
conducted by WHO (2004), the generated dioxin
estimation in 2001 in Brunei Darussalam is
about 195,040 kg coming from the healthcare
wastes from the three districts (except
Temburong). A double chamber incinerator
(1,000 0 C) is available at RIPAS Hospital, which
receives hospital waste for combustion twice
weekly. The amount of chemical and hazardous
wastes for disposal is unknown but the Brunei
Shell has a sanitary landfill which accepts both
solid waste and asbestos.
Although the country is a party to Basel
Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their
Disposal, currently, there is no Public Health Act
in Brunei Darussalam. The National Health
Care Plan 2000-2010 has specifically identified
issues related to environmental health under the
strategic themes of “Enhancing Healthcare
Services”. Areas for improvement required in
Brunei include policies and legislation for
environment and health.
E-WASTE
E-waste in Brunei, as in any country, is
composed of computers, mobile phones, radios,
cameras, refrigerators, washing machines, and
batteries. Out of 357,800 Bruneians, 191,900 had
access to mobile phones in 2006.
A survey conducted by the Department of
Recreation, Parks and Recreation (JASTRE) of
the Ministry of Development, at the Sungai-
Akar Landfill in 2005 showed that e-waste
contributes to only 1 %. Though in smaller
quantities, the toxicity of the e-waste matters
more than the quantity.
Findings
According to JASTRE, Brunei has no specific ewaste
legislation yet, but the department has
drafted an “Environmental Law”, which is still
in the pipeline. However, JASTRE advises
Bruneians not to throw their e-waste at the Sg
Akar Landfill, but instead send them to
recycling companies such as Daikyo
Environmental Recycling Sdn Bhd in Serasa, or
to scrap metal yards such as AMCOM Jaya in
Kg Bebatik Kilanas, or return the goods back to
the company, which would then sell them to
either of these places.
In Brunei, the private sectors undertake
collection of batteries and later exports them to
other ASEAN countries.
In 2005, a study titled “A Multi-disciplinary
Approach for a Sustainable Environment”, a
project on e-waste, was conducted by SHBIE
University in Brunei to take action and create
awareness about the importance of proper ewaste
management among the public. In this
study, the importance of recycling was
encouraged among students.
Media campaigns through newspapers were
used to encourage the proper management of ewaste
and the promotion of 3R practices (reuses,
reduce, recycle) in Brunei.
The toxicity and inherent problems of e-waste
are well known. The amount of e-waste
produced in Brunei is on par with other
developing Asian countries. The national
government is also aware of the problems and
has been taking all efforts to address the issue.
However, no initiative appears to have been
taken in inventorying and documenting the
compounding problems arising from e-waste.
Chapter 3: Country Analysis
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