Narrative Report

“Sub-regional Workshop on Enhancing Parties Capacities for Environmentally Sound Management of Mercury

Wastes under the Basel Convention”

Organized by:

the Secretariat of the Basel Convention

and

the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre (BCCC), Stockholm Convention Regional

Centre (SCRC), for Latin America and the Caribbean

Pedro Figari Montevideo Hotel Uruguay

November 17th -19th 2015

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Report Index

1. Summary ................................................................................................................... 2

2. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 3

3. Workshop Objectives ................................................................................................ 4

4. Workshop Development ........................................................................................... 4

5. Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 6

6. Recommendations .................................................................................................... 7

7. Annexes..................................................................................................................... 8

Annex I: Pictures ........................................................................................................... 8

Annex II: List of participants ....................................................................................... 15

Annex III: Agenda ........................................................................................................ 19

1. Summary

The Subregional Workshop on Enhancing Parties Capacities for Environmentally Sound

Management of Mercury Wastes, in the framework of the Basel Convention, has been

organized by the Joint Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention in

cooperation with the Coordinating and Regional Centre for the Basel and Stockholm

Convention, based in Montevideo, Uruguay. It was attended by 35 participants

representing governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,

Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,

Venezuela and Uruguay, as well as several international experts on the subject.

This 3-days workshop, has intended to improve capabilities of the environmentally

sound management of mercury waste through awareness raising.

Participants have also received training in the areas of Environmental Biomonitoring,

Contaminated Sites, Assessment and Risk Communication.

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2. Introduction

In the Basel Convention, elemental mercury and mercury containing or contaminated

wastes are categorized as hazardous wastes. Improper handling, collection,

transportation or disposal of mercury wastes as well as some disposal technologies,

can lead to emissions or releases of mercury, and could affect the human health and

the environment.

Technical guidelines were developed, under the Basel Convention framework, for the

environmentally sound management of waste, falling under its scope. Technical

guidelines provide for the foundation upon which countries can operate at a standard

that is not less environmentally sound than that required by the Basel Convention.

The Convention defines "Environmentally Sound Management" of waste subject to its

control, as taking all practicable steps to ensure that these wastes are managed in a

manner which will protect human health and the environment against the adverse

effects which may result from such waste.

The growing global trend towards phasing out mercury-added products and processes

using mercury will result in the generation of an excess of mercury if mercury supplies

remain at the current level. Therefore, ensuring environmentally sound management

of mercury waste will be a critical issue for most countries. Towards this end, the

Minamata Convention on Mercury, which is a global treaty to protect human health

and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, was adopted in 2013, and a

this date it has not entered into force.

The workshop will target national officials from selected Parties in the Latin American

and Caribbean region. In addition, representatives of regional centres, of Inter-

Governmental Organizations (IGOs) and the civil society organizations were welcome

to participate in the workshop.

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The training workshop was organized in close cooperation with the Joint Secretariat of

the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the Basel Convention

Coordinating Centre, Stockholm Convention Regional Centre, for Latin America and the

Caribbean based in Montevideo, Uruguay. The European Union has kindly provided the

funding for the training activity.

3. Workshop Objectives

• Enhancing Parties’ knowledge and expertise on environmentally sound

management of mercury waste based on the existing Technical Guidelines

developed by the Basel Convention on mercury waste and other existing tools;

• Increasing awareness of Parties on the set of practical manuals on

Environmentally Sound Management (ESM, for its English acronym) developed

by an expert working group, including issues of classification, collection,

storage, packaging and labeling, transportation and disposal operations under

the Basel Convention;

• Pilot testing of the updated existing technical guidelines on mercury waste and

the practical manuals on ESM; and,

• Facilitation the early implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury

by strengthening countries capacities to deal with mercury waste.

4. Workshop Development

Day 1

The workshop was opened with the participation of the Director of the National

Environment Directorate of Uruguay (DINAMA, by its Spanish acronym), Mr. Alejandro

Nario, the Director of the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre, Stockholm

Convention Regional Centre, for Latin America and the Caribbean based in Uruguay,

Ms. Gabriela Medina and the Representative of the Joint Secretariat of the Basel,

Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Ms. Francesca Cenni, who welcomed the

participants.

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It was made an introduction to the objectives of the Workshop and then it was done a

round of presentation of the workshop participants, both local and foreign ones.

Later, the Joint Secretariat presented on the Transboundary Movement and

Environmentally Sound Management of mercury waste and was performed a group

exercise in this regard.

Finally invited experts explained on Assessment and Risk Communication and

Environmental Biomonitoring in the context of mercury waste.

Day 2

During the morning were made presentations on Prevention and Waste Minimization

and the Capabilities of National Laboratories in Latin America and the Caribbean, made

to carry out sampling and analysis of mercury in the Region.

To continue, several presentations on sampling and analysis by representatives of

Uruguay were performed.

The Secretariat also presented a brief review of labeling of mercury waste according to

the revised technical guidelines.

During the afternoon were visited the laboratories of the National Environment

Directorate of Uruguay (DINAMA, for its Spanish acronym), and the Technological

Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU, for its Spanish acronym), there, on each laboratory, was

possible to observe how to perform the analysis of samples with mercury and the

operation of the equipment required.

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Day 3

To begin, the experts exposed about the collection, storage, recovery, recycling and

disposal of mercury waste and then on the Remediation of Contaminated Sites.

After that, were presented topics that addressed the issue of the Legislative and

Regulatory Framework globally and some countries presented their national situation

on these regard.

An update on what has been done by the Working Group of Experts on

Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) and it was addressed the challenges and

opportunities for the environmentally sound management of mercury waste and its

coordination with the Minamata Initial Assessment (MIAs, by its English acronym).

To close the afternoon, participants worked in groups on prevention and waste

minimization and presentations of the results was performed.

After that, the Workshop evaluation was fulfilled, the delivery of certificates was done

and the closure of the meeting was executed with the participation of the Director of

the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre, Stockholm Convention Regional Centre, for

Latin America and the Caribbean, Ms. Gabriela Medina and the Representative of the

Joint Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Ms. Francesca

Cenni.

5. Conclusions

The workshop from the logistical point of view it was done successfully, transfers,

lunches, technical visits, hotel services, materials, etc.

In the returns obtained by the attendees, it was noted:

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- The importance of being able to perform practical exercises on the direct

application of the Basel Convention.

- There were clarified various technical aspects for carrying out inventories of

dioxins and furans.

- It was highlighted the importance of exchanging experiences with countries in the

region, essential information for planning future actions on each country.

- Interpretation details were clarified of the Basel Convention and its relationship

with the Minamata Convention.

6. Recommendations

The recommendations came out of the returns obtained by the participants, of these is

possible to highlight:

- It should go deeper in the legal framework of the Convention, so it was suggested

that Regional Centers performs trainings that incorporates the legal aspects of this.

- The need to perform more practical exercises and share concrete case of studies.

- To have more technical support and to plan more training activities and exchange

of experiences.

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7. Annexes

Annex I: Pictures

Photography 1: Opening of the Workshop.

Photography 2: Plenary.

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Photography 3: Francesca Cenni, Joint Secretariat of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

Photography 4: Iris Fernandes, CETESB.

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Photography 5: David Bellinger, Harvard University.

Photography 6: Gabriela Medina, Director BCCC-SCRC.

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Photography 7: Working groups.

Photography 8: Working groups.

Photography 9: Working groups.

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Photography 10: Visit to laboratories.

Photography 11: Visit to laboratories.

Photography 12: Visit to laboratories.

13

Photography 13: Visit to laboratories.

Photography 14: Visit to laboratories.

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Photography 15: Group Image.

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Annex II: List of participants

Name Surname Contact Institution

1 Gloria León gloriabeatrizleon@yahoo.es Secretariat of Envirnonmet

Paraguay

2 Gilda Torres gmtorres@live.com Secretariat of Envirnonmet

Paraguay

3 Alexander Moreta Alexander.Moreta@ambiente.gob.do

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources

Dominican Rep.

4 Héctor Urbaez Hector.urbaez@ambiente.gob.do

Ministry of Environment And Natural Resources

Dominican Rep.

5 Maria

Gabriela Abarca mabarca@marena.gob.ni

Ministry of Environment And Natural Resources

Nicaragua

6 Ingrid Villatoro ivillatoro@marn.gob.gt

Ministry of Environment And Natural Resources

Guatemala

7 Lady Dominguez ldominguez@minsalud.gov.co

Ministry of Health and

Social Protection Colombia

8 Alberto Capra acapra@ambiente.gob.ar

Secretary of Environment

and Sustentable Development

Argentina

9 Leila Devia lumiere@inti.gob.ar Secretary of

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Environment and Sustentable

Development Argentina

10 Sonia Aranibar saranibar@minam.gob.pe

Ministry of Environment

Peru

11 Elmer Quichiz equichiz@digesa.minsa.gob.pe

Ministry of Health

Peru

12 Francisca Farias ffariasb@mma.gob.cl

Ministry of Environment

Chile

13 Paulina Villamar paulina.villamar@ambiente.gob.ec

Ministry of Environment

Ecuador

14 Miroslava Castellon miroslava_bo@otmail.com

Ministry of Environment

and Water

Bolivia

15 Tamara Perez tamara.perezr@gmail.com

Ministry of Environment

and Water

Bolivia

16 Gresmer Laya gresmer@gmail.com

Ministry of Popular Power

for the Environment

Venezuela

17 Erik Pereira elintelecto@gmail.com

Ministry of Popular Power

for the Environment

Venezuela

18 Yoaní González ygonzalez@minsa.gob.pa

Ministry of Health

Panama

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19 Jaime Velez jaime_e_velez@yahoo.com

Ministry of Health

Panama

20 Marco Tulio

Lobo lobosolocr@yahoo.com

Ministry of Health

Costa Rica

21 Juan

Carlos Oreamuno jcoreamuno@gmail.com

Ministry of Health

Costa Rica

22 Iris Fernandes ipoffo@sp.gov.br CETESB

23 Rubia Kuno rkuno@sp.gov.br CETESB

24 David Bellinger David.Bellinger@childrens.harvard.edu Havard University

25 Francesca Cenni francesca.cenni@brmeas.org BRS Secretariat

26 Mario Yarto mario.yarto@brmeas.org BRS Secretariat

27 Judith Torres jmtorres1426@gmail.com

Ministry of Housing, Land Planning and Environment

Uruguay

28 Carlos Hernandez carlosandres.hernandez@undp.org UNDP

29 Magdalena Preve magdalena.preve@undp.org UNDP

30 Gabriela Medina gmedina.uruguay@gmail.com BCCC-SCRC

31 Alejandra Torre atorre@latu.org.uy BCCC-SCRC

32 Natalia Maciel nataliamaciel.04@gmail.com BCCC-SCRC

33 Virginia Santana vsantana12@gmail.com BCCC-SCRC

34 Vivian Muñoz vivian.munoz@mvotma.gub.uy

Ministry of Housing, Land Planning and Environment

Uruguay

35 Guadalupe Exposito gexpositodufour@gmail.com Ministry of

Housing, Land Planning and

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Environment Uruguay

36 Carlos Saizar csaizar@latu.org.uy LATU

37 Raquel Huertas rhuertas@latu.org.uy LATU

38 Anahir Cenoz mercurio.proyecto.adm@gmail.com Uru/13/632

Project

39 Griselda Castagnino mercurio.proyecto@gmail.com Uru/13/632

Project

40 Natalia Barboza nataliabar@gmail.com

Ministry of Housing, Land Planning and Environment

Uruguay

41 Alejandro Mangarelli alejandro.mangarelli@gmail.com

Ministry of Housing, Land Planning and Environment

Uruguay

42 Estefanía Geymonat egeymonat@gmail.com

Ministry of Housing, Land Planning and Environment

Uruguay

43 Alberto Villarroel embajadomuruguay@gmail.com

Dominican Republic

Embassy in Uruguay

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Annex III: Agenda

Día 1 - Martes, 17 de Noviembre

08:30 - 09:00 Registro de participantes

Mañana: 9:00-

12:30

Apertura

Alejandro Nario,

Director Nacional de Medio Ambiente,

Ministerio de Vivienda, Ordenamiento

Territorial y Medio Ambiente

Gabriela Medina, Directora, Centro

Coordinador del Convenio de Basilea, Centro

Regional del Convenio de Estocolmo, para

América Latina y el Caribe, con sede en Uruguay

(BCCC-SCRC-Uruguay)

Francesca Cenni, Secretaría de los Convenios de

Basilea, Rotterdam y Estocolmo (BRS)

Objetivos del Taller Mario Yarto, Secretaría de los Convenios de

Basilea, Rotterdam y Estocolmo (BRS)

Presentación de los participantes Todos los participantes

Café

Desechos de mercurio en el Convenio de

Basilea: movimientos transfronterizos y gestión

ambientalmente racional de los desechos con

mercurio, vínculos con el Convenio de

Rotterdam

Francesca Cenni, Secretaría BRS

Desechos de mercurio y el Convenio de

Minamata, Asociación Mundial sobre el

mercurio (participación a distancia)

Desiree Narvaez, PNUMA Rama Químicos y

Desechos

Desechos de mercurio y el Convenio de

Minamata, Asociación Mundial sobre el

mercurio

Judith Torres, Ministerio de Vivienda,

Ordenamiento Territorial y Medio Ambiente

Discusión Todos los participantes

12:30-14:00 Almuerzo

Tarde: 14:00-18:00

Ejercicio grupal en movimiento transfronterizo Trabajo en grupos

Café

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Presentación de resultados de los trabajos en grupo y discusión

general Todos los participantes

Evaluación de Riesgo y Comunicación del Riesgo para la gestión

racional de los desechos con mercurio

Rubia Kuno y Iris Regina

Fernandes Poffo, Companhia

de Tecnologia de Ambiental do

Estado de Sao Paulo (CETESB)

(Stockholm Convention

Regional Centre in Brazil)

Monitoreo ambiental y biomonitoreo en el contexto de desechos

con mercurio

Rubia Kuno, CETESB

David Bellinger, Universidad

de Harvard

Oportunidades para financiado de los proyectos de mercurio por

el Fondo para el Medio Ambiente Mundial

Evelyn Swain, Especialista

ambiental, Clima y Productos

Químicos, el Fondo para el

Medio Ambiente Mundial

(FMAM)

Resumen del primer día Secretaría BRS/BCCC-SCRC-

Uruguay

19:00 Recepción

Día 2 - Miércoles, 18 de Noviembre

Mañana: 9:00-12:30

Prevención y minimización de desechos and

capacidades de los laboratorios nacionales en

América Latina para llevar a cabo el muestreo y

análisis de mercurio en Latinoamérica

Mario Yarto, Secretaría BRS

Muestreo y Análisis

Gabriela Medina, Directora,

BCCC-SCRC-Uruguay

Raquel Huertas, Laboratorio

Tecnológico del Uruguay

(LATU)

Natalia Barboza, Dirección

nacional de medio ambiente de

Uruguay (DINAMA)

Café

Breve reseña sobre etiquetado de los desechos

con mercurio de acuerdo con las directrices

técnicas revisadas

Francesca Cenni, Secretaría

BRS

Ejercicio grupal en prevención y minimización de

desechos Trabajo en grupos

12:30-14:00 Almuerzo

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Tarde: 14:00-18:00

Presentación de resultados de los trabajos en

grupo y discusión general Todos los participantes

Visita: Laboratorios de LATU y DINAMA

Todos los participantes

Día 3 - Jueves, 19 de Noviembre

Mañana: 9:00-12:30

Gestión ambientalmente racional de los desechos

con mercurio: recolección, almacenamiento,

recuperación de recursos, reciclado y disposición final

Mario Yarto y Francesca

Cenni, Secretaría BRS

Remediación de Sitios Contaminados Gabriela Medina, Directora,

BCCC-SCRC-Uruguay

Café

Ejercicio grupal en gestión ambientalmente

racional de los desechos con mercurio Trabajo en grupos

Presentación de resultados de los trabajos en

grupo y discusión general Todos los participantes

12:30-14:00 Almuerzo

Tarde: 14:00-18:00

Marco legislativo y normativo para la gestión

ambientalmente racional de los desechos con mercurio

Francesca Cenni, Secretaría

BRS

Marcos legales nacionales para el manejo

ambientalmente racional de los desechos con

mercurio: estudio de casos Gobiernos de Perú y Ecuador

Café

Desafíos y oportunidades para el manejo

ambientalmente racional de los desechos con mercurio y la coordinación con MIAs

Trabajo en grupos

Conclusiones y entrega de certificados Secretaría BRS

Evaluación y ceremonia de clausura Secretaría BRS/BCCC-SCRC-

Uruguay