The first bio-medical waste treatment installation in India is rapidly becoming a reality. Assisted by US-AEP, the facility utilizes a revolutionary microwave disinfection technology developed by Sanitec, Inc of New York. With US-AEP assistance, Maridi Eco- Therm Systems (MES) of India, in partnership with Sanitec and American Exporters, will implement the $1.5 million (US) initial project in Bangalore, India. Mr. Ramesh Babu, CEO of MES, stated that the new facility will handle medical waste from over 15,000 hospital beds in healthcare units located in and around Bangalore. MES has already signed MOU�s with two hospital associations in Karnataka State for bio-waste treatment.

The seeds of this success were sown over a year ago in Bangalore, when US-AEP/Chennai and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized a video presentation of Sanitec biowaste technology for a select audience of local medical and pollution control officials. The video event was followed by a presentation from Mr. Mark Taitz of Sanitec, at a two-day conference on bio- medical waste held in Bangalore in October 1999. Mr. Taitz acquainted attendees of the conference with the latest advances in bio-medical waste handling and technology designed to replace traditional incineration methods. The presentation, attended by Mr. Babu of MES and the Chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, was instrumental in the establishment of a joint venture between MES and Sanitec, the world leader in microwave bio-medical waste technology.

US-AEP�s efforts in India have heightened local and national awareness of bio-medical waste management issues, the need for new regulations and approaches to bio-medical waste handling, and available U.S. technologies that effectively address the problem. US-AEP will continue to build on this success.

Severe air pollution in Metro Manila, which often is five times higher than WHO standards, threatens public health and costs the country millions of dollars each year. US-AEP has played an important role in the development and implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1999 and the ADB-funded $298 million Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement Sector Development Program.

US-AEP assisted the Philippine government in drafting the Clean Air Act of 1999 by bringing in EPA experts in cooperation with the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The law was made effective on November 16, 2000 with the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations. US-AEP also promoted industrial investments in pollution reduction technologies by initiating and assisting with a USTDA grant that resulted in investment packages for 50 industrial firms. Funds to implement these investments are available through an ADB-funded credit facility.

Though the Clean Air Act mandated the elimination of leaded gasoline by January 1, 2001, the government and oil companies agreed to an April 1, 2000 phase-out in Metro Manila. US-AEP and USEPA spearheaded a public outreach campaign in Metro Manila to ensure public acceptance of the elimination of leaded gasoline. Although a protest was filed in court, the phase-out was implemented as scheduled and a study completed in November showed that atmospheric levels of lead in Manila have been reduced. The key to this success was the formation of a multisectoral coalition that organized the campaign and secured commitments from the major players. US-AEP grant funds provided the coalition with operational funds that could not be covered by government and private sector funds. US-AEP and the ADB also assisted the campaign to build public support for the January 1, 2001 nationwide phase-out.

Commercial successes related to these efforts include: $1.7 million Project Coordination Monitoring Unit contract awarded to Pennoni International (Philadelphia, PA); and a $46,000 contract awarded to Kruger Engineering & Sciences (Orchard Park, NY) to provide technical support to EMB for revisions to the Clean Air Act Implementing Rules and Regulations.

For the last several years, US-AEP has been assisting National Accreditation Bodies as they develop internationally recognized national accreditation systems for ISO 14000. To this end, US- AEP�s India Field Manager, Mr. Subrata Mazumder has been providing technical assistance to the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), the accreditation wing of the Quality Council of India (QCI), to develop and implement the national accreditation system for ISO 14000 for India.

Recently, Mr. Mazumder was asked by NABCB to serve as leader of a three-member expert team. The team was established to conduct a pilot implementation of the national scheme by conducting an accreditation audit of an international company that had applied for accreditation in India. This successful pilot brings the Indian national ISO 14000 and NABCB accreditation system a vital step closer to achieving International Accreditation Forum and Pacific Accreditation Cooperation recognition, the international and regional organizations that recognizes a national accreditation system�s compliance with the ISO 14000 guidelines.

[US-AEP�s industrial programs are administered by the Louis Berger Group]

The Alliance to Save Energy will hold a two-day seminar on "Saving Energy in Hospitals and Hotels" February 1-2, 2001 in Bangkok, Thailand. The seminar will focus on energy efficiency opportunities in the hospital and hotel sectors of Thailand. The seminar is being organized in cooperation with the Energy Engineering Institute (EEI) and the Association of Businesses for Energy Efficiency (ABEE). The Alliance has been working with the energy efficiency community in Thailand to create an association of energy efficiency businesses, whose goal is to expand markets for energy efficiency products and services in Thailand. This will be ABEE�s first activity. EEI and ABEE expect approximately 100-150 energy managers from Thai hospitals and hotels to participate. For additional information, please contact Felicia Ruiz, Program Associate, at (202) 530-2210, or email fruiz@ase.org

Congratulations are in order for Sundaresan Subramanian who received the US Department of State Meritorious Honor Award. Sundaresan was given the award January 5th by U.S. Ambassador to India Richard Celeste, at a special gathering in Chennai. The award recognizes the outstanding contributions of Sundaresan Subramanian in developing dynamic and innovative programs for US-AEP in South India.

8th Floor
PNB Financial Center
RoxasBoulevard
1308Pasay City
Philippines

The new phone numbers are:
632-552-9800 - 632-552-9900
Fax: 632-552-9999
Fax: 632-552-9899

Dennis Zvinakis� extension is now x5886, and Vikki Dagohoy�s is now x5502

Policy Forum Update

A reminder that there will be no Policy Forum for January 23rd, due to the GIN conference in Bangkok. The next Forum will be held February 6, 2001, with Mr. Brad Figel, Government Affairs Director and International Trade Counsel for Nike Inc. Mr. Figel will discuss Nike�s environmental initiatives, especially their product take-back and recycling programs. The meeting will be in the US- AEP Office at 1720 Eye Street, NW, Suite 700, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Brenda Bateman at (202) 835- 0333, ext. 104 or bbateman@usaep.org.

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