Among the significant achievements made by the institution are the collection and separation of 0.47 tons of paper and cardboard, which translates into eight trees saved quarterly; 49.43 kilos of plastic, 330 kilograms of toxic waste. They also highlight actions related to Decree 158-23, issued by President Luis Abinader in April of this year, by which he declared energy saving and efficiency policies a high priority.
The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development obtained the highest recognition, Gold Category, for the compliance and successful implementation of the culture of reduce, reuse and recycle, certifies the Sustainability 3Rs Foundation, Inc.
The institution, since September 2022, has successfully implemented the culture of the 3RS – reduce, reuse and recycle – as a reflection that it is possible to avoid, minimize and compensate the environmental impacts of the institution’s operational processes in various areas.
Among the significant achievements made by the institution are the collection and separation of 0.47 tons of paper and cardboard, which translates into 8 trees saved every quarter; 49.43 kilograms of plastic, delivered to the authorized supplier to be reprocessed.
In addition, collection of 330 kilograms of toxic waste (batteries, toner, lamps, metal, needles, technological waste, among others); as well as satisfactory results in air quality and water management analyses (generator gas emissions, water quality, air quality, noise controls, mobile source emissions, mobile source noise measurements and stationary source opacity), certified by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources.
An Environmental Management System Committee, an environmental management program based on ISO 14001, a waste management program and a waste management policy (GA-PO-13/V02), a health and safety program focused on protecting the physical and mental integrity of employees, a social management and extended responsibility program, an energy and fossil fuel savings program, an air and water quality control program, and a water management program were also created.
The initiative is led by the Administrative and Financial Vice-Ministry, with the objective of implementing the culture of reducing, reusing and recycling, creating a new organizational change, co-responsibility, contributing to the environment and being a more sustainable Ministry.
“We highlight that all these advances place the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development in the gold category of the 3RS Sustainability Certification; also, we comply with the provisions of Decree 158-23, issued by President Luis Abinader in April of this year, by which he declared as a high national priority the implementation of a policy of energy saving and efficiency in all public administration bodies, we have achieved it after only four months!”, highlighted the Administrative and Financial Vice-Minister, Yamel Valera, leader of the initiatives that have earned the Gold Category.
The award ceremony was led by the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Pável Isa Contreras; the president of the Sustainability 3Rs Foundation, Inc.
In this regard, Minister Pável Isa Contreras emphasized that “more than a seal or distinctive that we will place in all our social networks, web and the facilities of the Administrative and Financial Vice-Ministry, which has achieved this award, it is a genuine award that has been the result of the commitment and enthusiasm of the collaborators of our institution, implementing the 3RS Culture (reduce, reuse and recycle)”.
Isa Contreras contextualized the achievement of the Certification with the climatic, atmospheric and environmental situations that have increased in the Dominican Republic as a “small island developing state”.
“The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development is constantly rethinking productivity and the impact it brings to the environment; to such an extent that we have already created the convention that development is not possible without the people, in their territories… But, also, the people must be the main sentinel to protect the natural resources that, as in the case of the Enriquillo Region, where we recently did Development Dialogues, constitutes its main strength. A strength to preserve!”.
Also present at the meeting were Deputy Ministers Alexis Cruz Rodríguez, of Economic and Social Analysis; Olaya Dotel Caraballo, of International Cooperation; Domingo Matías, of Territorial Planning and Regional Development; Luis Madera Sued, of Planning and Public Investment, as well as the directors Herminia Reyes, Administrative; Dhariana Valdez of Human Resources; as well as the teams of the VAF Office, General Services, HR Occupational Health and Safety, Purchasing and Contracting, the Environmental Committee and the Safety Brigade.
3Rs Sustainability Certification
This is a distinction for national companies and institutions that have successfully implemented the 3Rs culture to avoid, reduce and compensate the environmental impacts of their operations.
Among the requirements for gold certification are the water management program; air quality control program and compliance with the requirements for the bronze and silver categories, which include waste management, health and safety programs; person responsible for the environmental management system (EMS); environmental impact analysis; environmental program and environmental policy; energy and fossil fuel savings program; and social management program, respectively.
About the 3Rs Sustainability Foundation, Inc.
It is a professional team specialized in supporting organizations that seek to achieve environmental sustainability and eco-efficiency in their processes.
The foundation focuses on developing programs oriented to organizations to identify and facilitate the taking of environmentally responsible measures to become more sustainable, ensuring that the staff is well informed and trained in the fields of sustainable and environmentally responsible practices, under the 3Rs Culture: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Source: Mepyd.gob.do
