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Latin America and Caribean

28
What does the regional centre in Uruguay do?

Read our interview with Gabriela Medina to understand how regional efforts help implement the Basel and Stockholm conventions.

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23
Countdown to the Triple COPs – Presidents’ Joint Meeting takes place in Geneva
The Presidents of the conferences of the parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions met on 21 April 2015 to finalize arrangements for the preparation of the upcoming Triple COPs

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01
UNIDO Programme on WEEE in Latin America

These sessions aim at sharing details of the UNIDO approach to e-waste management. They also aim at presenting the programme on strengthening of national initiatives and enhancement of regional cooperation for the environmentally sound management of POPs in waste of electronic or electrical equipment (WEEE) in Latin-American countries; programme that is currently under development.

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10
Workshop on the prosecution of illegal traffic helps assess challenges in enforcing the Basel Convention

Legal responses to illegal traffic found to have merit, but opinions diverge on their effectiveness.

 

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24
Central America launches two national pilot projects to speed safe destruction of ozone-depleting substances and persistent organic pollutants
Destroying large banks of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) together with persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

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01
The constituents of used lead acid batteries (ULAB), such as lead and sulfuric acid, may pose a threat to human health and the environment if managed improperly. The Regional Strategy for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries in Central America, Columbia, Venezuela and the Caribbean Island States was prepared under the auspices of the Basel Convention Partnership Initiative to assist developing countries in planning for and adopting policies, programs and measures to support a cooperative and coordinated approach to ensuring the environmentally sound management (ESM) of ULAB in the region. A regional approach is needed because the domestic ULAB recycling capacity of many countries in the region is inadequate (from an ESM perspective), insufficient, or lacking altogether. In addition, several countries (especially Small Island Developing States) do not generate sufficient quantities of ULAB to establish direct consignments with ULAB recyclers located in other countries.

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16
The project consists of designing, implementing and disseminating a methodology applicable to various currents of hazardous wastes by means of a Pilot Project with three hazardous wastes streams applied in Brazil and with the participation of various stakeholders. This methodology will be adjusted and prepared under the form of guidelines to be disseminated in the region through the Coordinating, South American, Central American and Caribbean BCRC and the National Cleaner Production Centres-UNIDO.

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18
New Partnership with Local Authorities for the Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous and other Wastes in the Context of the Basel Convention in South America

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15
El proyecto se enfoca en catalizar las acciones desarrolladas dentro de los Convenios de Estocolmo, Basilea y Rotterdam, fortaleciendo las capacidades nacionales para el manejo ambientalmente adecuado de los bifenilos policlorados (PCBs) y equipos que los contengan. Para esto, se desarrolla inventarios nacionales armonizados y planes de acción nacionales, incluyendo la revisión de la legislación aplicable y el fortalecimiento de las capacidades de las Aduanas.

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01

E-waste is a growing concern in South America. Since 2000, the use of personal computers in the region grows around 15% a year. Furthermore, ITU figures show Brazil and Argentina to be among the 25 countries with the most personal computers in the world. A better assessment of the production of e-waste in the region is key to assisting national authorities to respond to this emerging issue through the development of new environmental regulations, the building of partnerships with industry and the consideration of policies on life-cycle approach, integrated waste management and cooperation and sharing of information at the regional level.

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22
Training Program for Municipal Officers in Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes
El objetivo del proyecto es la capacitación de técnicos municipales en la gestión ambientalmente adecuada de desechos peligrosos, atendiendo las necesidades de estos actores locales y fortaleciendo la articulación con la Autoridades Competentes en el cumplimiento de los objetivos del Convenio de Basilea. Más allá de las responsabilidades específicas que las legislaciones nacionales les asignan a los diferentes actores, los municipios tienen un importante rol en la gestión de los residuos peligrosos por estar integrados al territorio donde se generan, almacenan, transportan y eventualmente se reciclan, tratan y disponen dichos residuos.

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01

ULAB include starting or “automotive” batteries, and deep discharge or “industrial” batteries (used for stationary and motive applications).  The constituents of used lead acid batteries (ULAB), such as lead and sulphuric acid, may pose a threat to human health and the environment if managed improperly. 

In the Group of Latin America and Caribbean (GRULAC) there have been several documented cases in which ULAB has not been managed in an environmentally sound manner and has led to a number of adverse impacts, including lead poisoning and lead contaminated sites in some vulnerable communities.  Consequently the mismanagement of ULAB may have long-term implications, not only for a country’s environmental health, but also for its economic and social growth and development.  Within the GRULAC, a number of countries, particularly the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), have resource constraints and challenges associated with the environmentally sound management (ESM) of ULAB.

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26
Las existencias de plaguicidas obsoletos, constituyen un riesgo para la salud y el ambiente, dado que son un residuo constituido por sustancias químicas peligrosas. Además, en su calidad de residuo sin valor económico, en general se acumulan en condiciones inadecuadas en sitios no controlados. Por consiguiente, el riesgo se incrementa, porque existe exposición a los desechos debido al libre acceso de personas y animales al sitio; y por el deterioro de envases, vertido de los productos, y contaminación del sitio y su entorno.

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15
Overview and Summary of Outcomes from the Regional Consultations on the Draft Guidelines on BAT and BEP relevant to Article 5 and Annex C of the Stockholm Convention
At the third meeting of the Expert Group on best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practices (BEP) in Tokyo in October 2004, UNEP Chemicals foreshadowed a series of regional consultations on the draft guidance to assist countries prepare for the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention (COP-1) to be held in May of 2005. It was considered that successful COP consideration, and subsequent use of the guidelines, would depend on participants’ understanding of the issues. It was important also that the guidance be representative of all regions.

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15
Practical Guideline on Environmentally Sound Management of Obsolete Pesticides in the Latin America and Caribbean Countries
The present publication aims to provide a practical guideline on the environmentally sound management of obsolete pesticides within the Latin America and Caribbean countries, and takes into consideration related aspects such as identification and stockpiles management, their handling as hazardous wastes, treatment alternatives, exportation, generation prevention and the obligations laid down by the international conventions of Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam.

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