WORK PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE CHEMICAL AGENDA IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO. By Miguel Araujo Director BCRC-CAM

Transcription

1 WORK PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE CHEMICAL AGENDA IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO By Miguel Araujo Director BCRC-CAM

2 I. Background Mision To support governments, private sector and civil society organizations of the countries of the region, in the safe and environmentally sound management of hazardous materials (substances, residues and wastes) and other wastes, through the implementation of the Basel Convention and other agreements and related initiatives, promoting training, technology transfer and access to information on these issues, as well as trough awareness raising to the general public, with the aim of preventing damages to the environment and health of the population and to contribute to the competitiveness andsustainable development ofthe region.

3 II. Work Priority Areas The Centre has focused its work activity in 5 main topics: 1. Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries 2. Initiative for the Coordinated Destruction of ODS and POPs 3. Environmentally Sound Management of Ewaste 4. Reduction of Chemical Runoffs from Agriculture and Tourism 5. Capacity Building in support of the implementation of Chemical agreements.

4 Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries A regional strategy was developed during and have continued since, under the joint leadership of BCRC-Central America & Mexico and BCRC-Caribbean. Participant countries: Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago. Objectives: a) Review national status; b) Classify Recyclers with ESM; c) To identify policy measures aimed at the improvement of ULAB recuperation, reducing lead exposure, and to agree on a strategy.

5 Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries 13 Recycling facilities were visited and assesed. ESM Recycling plants were found in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and Venezuela. Countries with no facilities: Belice, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Bermudas. The regional strategy established that countries with no ESM recycling facilities would export to neighboring countries with ESM recycling facilities.

6 Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries 1) 7 step model developed for ESM of ULAB; 2) National Implementation Plans and Regional Strategy; 3) Assesment procedure identified (Green Lead); 4) Training Manual, which is being used globally; 5) Improved compliance of the Basel Convention.

7 Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries 6) Green Lead Assesment procedure implemented: a) Training Workshop trained 20 Assesors(2009) b) More than $30 Million invested in ESM ULAB Recycling: i. 1st Green Lead Award to Acumuladores Iberia (2008) + 2nd Green Lead Award (2011). Acumuladores Iberia received 2 National Cleaner Production Awards + 2 Central American Cleaner Production Awards + close to receive ISO & ii. New Green Slag ULAB recycling facilities in Dominican Republic (Industrias Meteoro) and Costa Rica (Recuperadora Nacional del Plomo) in advance process for its nomination to a Green Lead Award, as well as a recycling facility in Cali, Colombia (MAC).

8 Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries 7. Coordination with public policies and implementation of the Basel Convention: a) Guatemala allowed importation of ULAB + prohibited its exportation + combatted illegal trade + resolved notifications acceptance diligently. b) ULAB exported to Guatemala from El Salvador and Honduras. c) Centre advising the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic on a possible Executive Decree prohibiting the exportation of ULAB and lead scrap. d) Centre coordinating with Ministry of Health in Costa Rica a declaration of ULAB as special waste if it complies with Green Lead.

9 Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries 8. Presentation of Strategy to Ministers of Environment. 9. Director of BCRC-CAM designated President of Green Lead International Committee. 10. Antigua, Guatemala, likely to host in 2013 III International Conference on Secondary Use of Lead, organized by the BCRC- CAM + Mark Stevenson (bilingual + live via Internet). 11. BCRC-CAM selected by Mark Stevenson to receive its zero slag technology. Acumuladores Iberia will be first beneficiary. 12. Prepared a proposal for a Consolidation Phase which seeks Ministerial support and includes evolving from Green Lead Award into a Green Lead Certification and a social franchise. 13. Strategy strengthened in the future with reactivation of BCRC- Caribbean and expanded in South America in 2012 with BCRC- South America.

10 Initiative for the Coordinated Destruction of ODS and POPs 1st of its kind in the world. Financed by Switzerland and Norway for the feasibility, pilot destructions and a legal study on the feasibility of intrarregional transboundary movements. Supported by an Internacional Advisory Committee: 1. the Secretary of the Montreal Protocol 2. Representatives of the Secretaries of the Basel, Stockholm and Climate Change Conventions. 3. US Department of Defense, US EPA, Dutch Ministry of Defence 4. Institute for Governance who is also Co-chair of the Montreal Protocol Panel on Technology and Economic (TEAP). 5. Institute for Advance Science and Technology of Japan 6. Refrigerant Reclaim Australia 7. Marta Pizano, Hortitecnia, who is also Co-Chair of TEAP

11 1st IAC PhysicaI Meeting

12 Initiative for the Coordinated Destruction of ODS and POPs Set Regional Advisory Committee, with participation of governments, academia, NGO, Cement Industry and refrigerant companies. Scheme of support to National Destruction Plans under the leadership of ational authorities. Draft Desk study Selected El Salvador and Nicaragua to host pilot destructions to calibrate protocols. Produced Webpage on ODS & POPs in Blogspot. Produced Chapter 4 of the Climate Change, Chemicals and Wastes, presented at the Climate Change COP in Durban, Preidentified some technologies (dechlorination, coprocessing, mobil plasma arc plants).

13 ESM of Ewaste Dynamic participation in PACE, the Director of BCRC- CAM being Co-Chair of PACE Project Group 4.1 focused on Awareness Raising and Training. Participation in RELAC. Produce PACE Toolkit for ESM of Ewaste with UNEP support, which also included a PACE song and video. Preparing proposal for Formalizing the Informals in coordination with BCRC-South America, with the Inter- American Development Bank.

14 ESM of Ewaste Organizing together with USEPA, USEPAT, BCRC-South America and others, an International Dialogue on ESM of Ewaste next pril 23-24, 2012 in San Salvador. Hosting 5th Physical Meeting of PACE Working Group in San Salvador, on April 25-27, Preparing a Central American and Caribbean Ewaste proposal in coordination with UNDP and UNEP, which includes a recycling plant in El Salvador, as well as baseline studies in Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.

15 Reduction of Chemical Runoffs in Agriculture and Tourism Led by UNEP & FAO, with `participation of PAHO, WWF, NOAH, Croplife and others. 10 countries participate (Central America + Jamaica, Dominican Republic + Colombia) BCRC-CAM will serve as information exchange hub and coordinator of destruction of obsolete pesticides. Ready to be presented to GEF Chemicals window.

16 Capacity Building Central American Workshop on ODS & POPs Destruction and Coprocessing Technical Guidelines to explore possibility of certification of cement kilns able to coprocess (March, 2012). Regional Workshop on National Reporting and Inventories, (hopefully combined with a Green Customs), May 2012 in San Salvador.

17 Thank You Very Much! Miguel Araujo Tel: Skype: miguelearaujop