Technical Guidelines Archives

Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of Wastes Consisting of, Containing or Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Work following COP-13

Following BC-13/4 decision, the SIWG on POP wastes worked on new and updated technical guidelines from September 2017 to April/May 2019. The work of the SIWG can be followed through its meetings and the versions of the guidelines that were developed and updated (December 2017 versions, March 2018 versions).

Information submitted, pursuant to paragraph 10, of decision BC-13/4, on low persistent organic pollutant content values (LPC) is available on the website and compiled in a document for the OEWG-11 meeting (UNEP/CHW/OEWG.11/INF/14).  

At the eleventh meeting of the Open-ended Working Group, by its decision OEWG-11/3, the Working group invited comments from Parties and others by 15 February 2019 on the draft technical guidelines to be prepared after the OEWG-11 meeting. 

The comments received as per decision OEWG-11/3 are available on the website and compiled in a document for the COP-14 meeting (UNEP/CHW.14/INF/9).

The technical guidelines prepared for the consideration of the COP-14 in 2019, we developed in consultation with the SIWG, and took into account the comments received. The documents were made available at the COP-14 webpage (UNEP/CHW.14/7/Add.1 to UNEP/CHW.14/7/Add.5). 

Information on the meetings of the SIWG is available on the website.

Previous comments and versions of the technical guidelines can be found in the archive page. 

Work prior to COP-13

By decision BC-12/3, the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention adopted the General technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants, and specific technical guidelines that had been updated or prepared to address the chemicals listed in Annexes A, B and C to the Stockholm Convention by decisions SC-4/10 to SC-4/18, SC-5/3 and SC-6/13 of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention. The adopted technical guidelines are available in the Publications-Technical Guidelines page. 

Following BC-12/3 decision, Parties and others were invited to provide comments on different aspects related to the development of the technical guidelines. Please find below, several requests and comments provided by Parties and others on the various requests. These also include requests made in decision OEWG-10/4 of the Open-ended Working Group at its tenth meeting. 

As of May 2017, Members of the Intersessional Working Group for the Development of Technical Guidelines on POPs Waste.

Comments received from Parties and others on the second revised draft general and pesticides technical guidelines as per OEWG-10/4, paragraph 5 and Annex B (versions of 17 January 2017)

In decision OEWG-10/4, paragraph 6, parties and others were invited to submit comments, by 28 February 2017, on the second revised draft general technical guidelines and pesticides technical guidelines, referred to in Section B of the Annex to the decision. Comments received by the Secretariat are listed below.

 
TitleEnglish
Items: 4 
China – comments on the general technical guidelines16.12 K
EU – comments on the general technical guidelines335.14 K
IPEN – comments on the general technical guidelines336.33 K
EU – comments on the pesticides technical guidelines406.94 K

Second revised draft general and pesticides technical guidelines as per OEWG-10/4, paragraph 6 and Annex B

According to paragraph 6, of decision OEWG-10/4, the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention at its tenth meeting invited Parties and others to submit, to the Secretariat, by 28 February 2017, comments on the second revised drafts of the general technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants , as well as comments on the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with the pesticides aldrin, alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, chlordane, chlordecone, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, mirex, pentachlorobenzene, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, technical endosulfan and its related isomers or toxaphene or with hexachlorobenzene as an industrial chemical, which was revised to include hexachlorobutadiene and pentachlorophenol and its salts.

 
TitleDateEnglish
Items: 2  

Second revised draft general technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants

(General technical guidelines on POPs waste)

1/17/2017298.4 K

Second revised draft technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with the pesticides aldrin, alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, chlordane, chlordecone, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorobutadiene, lindane, mirex, pentachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol and its salts, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, technical endosulfan and its related isomers or toxaphene or with hexachlorobenzene as an industrial chemical

(Technical guidelines on pesticides)

1/17/2017444.66 K

Comments received from Parties and others on the first revised draft general and pesticides technical guidelines as per OEWG-10/4, paragraph 5 and Annex B (versions of 7 October 2016)

In decision OEWG-10/4, paragraph 5, parties and others were invited to submit comments, by 15 November 2016, on the first revised draft general technical guidelines and pesticides technical guidelines, referred to in Section B of the Annex to the decision. Comments received by the Secretariat are listed below.
 
PartiesTitleEnglish
Items: 5  
ColombiaColombia - Comments on the General and Pesticides technical guidelines199.07 K
European UnionEU – comments on the General technical guidelines291.62 K
European UnionEU – comments on the Pesticides technical guidelines440.43 K
JapanJapan – information on PCN and HCBD (relevant for the General technical guidelines)34.53 K
NorwayNorway – change in Annex II to the General technical guidelines265.48 K

First revised draft general and pesticides technical guidelines as per OEWG-10/4, paragraph 5 and Annex B

According to paragraph 5, of decision OEWG-10/4, the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention at its tenth meeting invited Parties and others to submit, to the Secretariat, by 15 November 2016, comments on the first revised drafts of the general technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants , as well as comments on the technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with the pesticides aldrin, alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, chlordane, chlordecone, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, mirex, pentachlorobenzene, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, technical endosulfan and its related isomers or toxaphene or with hexachlorobenzene as an industrial chemical, which was revised to include hexachlorobutadiene and pentachlorophenol and its salts.

 
TitleDateEnglish
Items: 2  
First revised draft general technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants

(General technical guidelines on POPs waste)

10/7/2016332.55 K
First revised draft technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with the pesticides aldrin, alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, chlordane, chlordecone, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorobutadiene, lindane, mirex, pentachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol and its salts, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, technical endosulfan and its related isomers or toxaphene or with hexachlorobenzene as an industrial chemical

(Technical guidelines on pesticides)

10/7/2016435.04 K

Comments on the draft technical guidelines set out in documents UNEP/CHW/OEWG.10/INF/18, UNEP/CHW/OEWG.10/INF/19, UNEP/CHW/OEWG.10/INF/20 and UNEP/CHW/OEWG.10/INF/21

In decision OEWG-10/4, paragraph 4, parties and others were invited to submit comments, by 15 September 2016, on the draft technical guidelines referred to in Section A of the Annex to the decision (draft of HCBD, PCP, PCB and UPOPs technical guidelines). Comments received by the Secretariat are listed below.

Submissions regarding the low persistent organic pollutant content values – supporting documents

 
SubmitterDateEnglish
Items: 2  
IPEN2/17/2017412.7 K
European Eunion2/24/201731.36 K

Submissions regarding the low persistent organic pollutant content values - as per OEWG-10/4 decision, paragraph 7

In decision BC-12/3, paragraph 9, parties and others were invited to provide comments on the low persistent organic pollutant content values included in the technical guidelines. Comments received by the Secretariat are listed below.

 
SubmitterEnglish
Items: 6 
Norway26.98 K
Japan25.46 K
IPEN - Toxic Toy or Toxic Waste: Recycling POPS into New Products - Summary for Decision-Makers1.46 MB
IPEN - HIGH LEVELS OF PCDD/F, PBDD/F AND PCB IN EGGS AROUND POLLUTION SOURCES DEMONSTRATES THE NEED TO REVIEW SOIL STANDARDS689.45 K
HBCDD Hexabromocyclododecane in Polystyrene Foams Product Safety Assessment 2016 edition406.55 K
European HBCD Industry Group and EUMEPS position on the appropriate low POP content limit for HBCD in Polystyrene Foam waste406.75 K

Submissions regarding the low persistent organic pollutant content values - as per BC-12/3 decision, paragraph 9

In decision BC-12/3, paragraph 9, parties and others were invited to provide comments on the low persistent organic pollutant content values included in the technical guidelines. Comments received by the Secretariat are listed below.

 
SubmitterEnglish
Items: 3 
Canada901.37 K
EU and its Member States103.42 K
HBCD Industry - Determination of HBCD in Polystyrene Foams with the GC-FID Technique731.67 K

Submissions regarding decaBDE

In decision BC-12/3, paragraph 15, parties and others were invited to submit waste-related information on decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) to the secretariat and Norway by 30 August 2016. Comments and documents received by the Secretariat regarding decaBDE are listed below.

 
PartiesDateTitleEnglish
Items: 7   
Canada9/7/2016Letter75.31 K
Canada9/7/2016Background Study on the Content of Shredder Residue2.07 MB
European Union9/13/2016Comments25.34 K
India8/22/2016Letter189.87 K
Japan8/22/2016Letter89.11 K
Norway9/7/2016Consultancy service on collecting, summarising and analysing information on c-decaBDE in waste574.26 K
Norway5/18/2016Literature Study – DecaBDE in waste streams3.2 MB

Small Intersessional Working Group on Technical Guidelines for POPs Waste.

Pursuant to paragraph 7 of decision OEWG-9/3, parties and others are invited to provide comments by 23 January 2015. A final draft will then be presented to the Conference of the Parties by 6 March 2015 as information document taking into account comments received. Comments should be sent to the lead country Canada and the Basel Convention Secretariat for the attention of: BaselPOPs@ec.gc.ca; ibrahim.shafii@brsmeas.org and dadan.wardhana@brsmeas.org

Comments received from Parties and others on the draft technical guidelines of November/December 2014 version

  • Parties
  • Others

Officially edited draft technical guidelines

The documents presented in the table below are basically in the same version of the previously posted documents, except that they have been officially edited for non-substantive contents. Parties and others are kindly requested to use the officially edited documents for their review and comments. Please note that, due to timing issue, the draft technical guidelines for pesticides waste remains unedited and is available for download in the previous table.

 
TitleDateEnglish
Items: 6  
Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether, and tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether (POP-BDEs)

(Technical guidelines for BDEs waste)

11/26/201490.69 K
Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)

(Technical guidelines for HBCD waste)

11/26/2014119.88 K
Technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)

(Technical guidelines for PFOS waste)

11/26/2014102.01 K
Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) or polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), including hexabromobiphenyl (HBB)

(Technical guidelines for PCB waste)

11/27/2014112.04 K
Draft updated technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes containing or contaminated with unintentionally produced polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, hexachlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls or pentachlorobenzene

(Technical guidelines for unintentional POPs)

11/27/201497.08 K
Draft updated general technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants

(General technical guidelines for POPs waste)

12/1/2014191.25 K

Unedited draft technical guidelines as submitted by the developers

 
TitleDateEnglish
Items: 7  
Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether, and tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether (POP-BDEs)

(Technical guidelines for BDEs waste)

11/26/2014198 K
Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)

(Technical guidelines for HBCD waste)

11/26/2014289.5 K
Technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)

(Technical guidelines for PFOS waste)

11/26/2014268 K
Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) or polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), including hexabromobiphenyl (HBB)

(Technical guidelines for PCB waste)

11/27/2014107.1 K
Draft updated technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes containing or contaminated with unintentionally produced polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, hexachlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls or pentachlorobenzene

(Technical guidelines for unintentional POPs)

11/27/201490.63 K
Draft updated general technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants

(General technical guidelines for POPs waste)

12/1/2014198.87 K
Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with the pesticides aldrin, alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, chlordane, chlordecone, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, mirex, pentachlorobenzene, technical endosulfan and its related isomers or toxaphene or with hexachlorobenzene as an industrial chemical

(Technical guidelines for pesticides waste)

12/19/2014315.5 K

Coordination meeting of the Chair of the Small Intersessional Working Group (SIWG) on POPs, Geneva, Switzerland, 21 - 23 May 2014

Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of Wastes Consisting of, Containing or Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

The Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention (BC COP), by paragraph 4 of decision BC-11/3, welcomes with appreciation the offer by Canada to chair the small intersessional working group until the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and expresses its appreciation to the lead countries Canada, China and Japan and the lead organizations the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Environment Programme for their financial or in-kind contributions for tasks under the programme of work on the updating and or development of Technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (technical guidelines for the ESM of POPs wastes). The BC COP also invites the lead countries and lead organizations to take into account the programme of work for the review and updating of the technical guidelines for the ESM of POPS wastes as mentioned in paragraph 5 of the same decision.

Pursuant to the abovementioned invitation and the assignments specified by paragraph 6 of the same decision, the lead countries and lead organizations - in consultation with the small intersessional working group (SIWG) - have prepared draft technical guidelines as assigned to each of them and presented in the table hereunder.

Draft technical guidelines - 28.02.2014 version

 
Lead country/organizationTitle of technical guidelinesDeadline for commentsDownload
Items: 6  Files: 6
Canada

Draft revised general technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants

(General technical guidelines for POPs waste)

4/30/2014
508.5 K
English
Canada

Draft revised technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride

(Technical guidelines for PFOS waste)

4/15/2014
263 K
English
China

Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with commercial octabromodiphenyl ether (hexabromodiphenyl ether and heptabromodiphenyl ether), commercial pentabromodiphenyl ether (tetrabromodiphenyl ether and pentabromodiphenyl ether) and hexabromocyclododecane

(Technical guidelines for PBDE waste)

4/15/2014
361 K
English
Japan

Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated terphenyls or polybrominated biphenyls including hexabromobiphenyl

(Technical guidelines for PCB waste)

4/15/2014
228 K
English
FAO

Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with the pesticides aldrin, alpha hexachlorocyclohexane, beta hexachlorocyclohexane, chlordane, chlordecone, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, mirex, pentachlorobenzene, technical endosulfan and its related isomers or toxaphene or with hexachlorobenzene as an industrial chemical

(Technical guidelines for pesticides waste)

4/15/2014
348 K
English
UNEP Chemicals

Draft technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with unintentionally produced dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene or polychlorinated biphenyls

(Technical guidelines for unintentional POPs)

4/15/2014
210.5 K
English

In order to get an overview of the entire documents, please refer to the Note by the Chair of the Small Intersessional Working Group (Canada) contained on the general technical guidelines for POPs waste document first.  For complete reference on the technical guidelines preparations and the specified dates for comments, please refer to the BC COP decision BC-11/3.

The BC COP invites parties and others to submit comments to the Secretariat on the drafts technical guidelines by the date as specified for each of them in paragraph 6 of decision BC-11/3, as also indicated in the table above.Please e-mail your comments to Mr. Dadan Wardhana Hasanuddin (dadan.wardhana@unep.org) and Mr. Ibrahim Shafii (ibrahim.shafii@unep.org).

Progress Report on Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes Consisting of, Containing or Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Pursuant to decision OEWG-8/5 paragraphs 4 and 5, Canada and other lead countries (later, through the Secretariat, other lead organizations as well) to prepare, in consultation with the small intersessional working group, first drafts of the technical guidelines referred to in paragraph 3 of the decision or a progress report by 15 February 2013 for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting. The abovementioned draft technical guidelines and or progress reports have been compiled and presented by Canada.

Download the Progress report on the implementation of the programme of work for the development, review and updating of Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes Consisting of, Containing or Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as of 18 February 2013.

In accordance with paragraph 6 of decision OEWG-8/5, parties and others are invited to provide comments on the draft guidelines or progress reports referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the decision by 31 March 2013. 

Progress Report as of 14 December 2012

Download the Progress Report as of 14 December 2012.

Comments from Parties and other stakeholders

 
DateSubmitterTitleEnglish
Items: 3   
12/14/2012GermanyProgress Report on the Updating of the General Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes Consisting of, Containing or Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 159.5 K 76.5 K
12/14/2012ItalyComments and observation about Progress Report on the Updating of the General Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management of Wastes Consisting of, Containing or Contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)187 K 146.62 K
3/27/2013European UnionComments from the EU and its member states on the progress report on the implementation of the programme of work for the development, review and updating of technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants.482 K 266.77 K

Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)

Comments from Parties and other stakeholders – First Draft, 14

 
DateSubmitterTitleEnglish
Items: 6   
12/14/2012ItalyComments and observation about the 1st Draft (December 14, 2012) of the Technical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)37.5 K 52.83 K
12/14/2012GermanyIn addition to the comments provided in revision mode, we would like to draw attention to some background material:342 K 321.05 K
12/14/2012MexicoTechnical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)144 K 114.62 K
1/20/2013AW IPENTechnical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)372 K 283.94 K
1/22/2013SwedenSIWG guideline drafts on POPs PFOS-g and progress report on TG35 K 74.43 K
1/25/2013JapanTechnical guidelines on the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF)68.99 K 113.25 K

Comments received from Parties and others on the decisison VIII/16 - Review and update the technical guidelines on persistent organic pollutant (POP) wastes, if appropriate, and review disposal methods when the POP content in wastes is beneath low POP content.

Comments received before COP8

 
SubmitterEnglish
Items: 5 
European Community46.5 K 70.68 K
Ipen291.5 K 586.54 K
Japan218 K 362.68 K
Norway81 K 38.84 K
UNEP Chemicals116.67 K

Comments received after COP8 (decision VIII/16)

 
SubmitterEnglish
Items: 2 
European Community55.5 K 20.02 K
Norway53 K 16.97 K

Comments received after OEWG6

 
SubmitterEnglishFrench
Items: 4  
European Community39 K 182.1 K 
Fnade51.5 K 26.97 K 43.5 K 24.26 K
Japan39 K 14.62 K 
Norway78.5 K 24.34 K 

Stockholm COP decision SC-3/5 Guidelines on best available techniques and draft guidance on best environmental practices

Submission by the European Union and its Member States

Small Intersessional Working Group on Technical Guidelines for POPs Waste.

Members of the Intersessional Working Group for the Development of Technical Guidelines on POPs as Wastes.

Draft programme of work for the Open-Ended Working Group (English, French), for review by Parties.  Parties and others are invited to submit comments on the draft programme of work by 15.05.2012 for consideration by the SIWG and for publication on the Basel Convention website to the following address: BaselPOPs@ec.gc.ca. and dadan.wardhana@unep.org

Last draft programme of work for submission to the Open-Ended Working Group based on comments received on the previous draft document