1. Ensuring responsible management of mercury stocks from the chlor-alkali sector
Michael Bender, Director
Mercury Policy Project
UNEP Global Mercury Chlor-alkali Partnership
Expert Group Meeting to Identify Barriers and Opportunities
Vienna, Austria
June 2016

2. Founded in 1998, the U.S.-based NGO Mercury Policy Project works to:
Promote policies to eliminate mercury uses,
Reduce mercury trade, and
Reduce human exposures to mercury
MPP co-coordinates the Zero Mercury Working Group ( coalition of over 90 NGOs from 52 countries

3. Global Challenge: Managing 10,500 tonnes of mercury from the Chlor-alkali sector in an environmental sound manner
Of that amount, around 7,500 tonnes of Hg is located in countries with export bans
Around 3,000 tonnes of Hg remains in countries without export bans
Suggest Partnership has a role to play to ensure Hg is managed in env. sound manner
Open Mercury Cell

4. Background: Where has the mercury gone in the past?
When closed or converted, large quantities of mercury become available
The mercury is often transferred to other facilities
Or it can be sold into the global marketplace, sometimes for use in artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM)
ASGM is the largest airborne mercury source worldwide
Mercury cell plants can also pollute the local environment, as in case pictured here
Spolana Vurmeta, Czech Republic

5. Changes under Convention to manage Hg from plant conversions or closings
Parties have obligation under Article 5.5(c) to report three years after treaty enters into force on number, types of facilities, amount mercury used
Article 3, paragraph 5(b) states that where the Party determines that “excess” mercury is available from chlor-alkali sector, such mercury is disposed of in accordance with the env. sound mgt. of waste referred to in paragraph 3 (a) of Article 11
Parties also have reporting requirements under Article 21 that apply to Articles 3,5,7,8,9

6. Regional solutions versus national approaches for Hg stocks & waste mgt.
In collaboration w/national governments, suggest Partnership facilitates development of plans for managing mercury from chlor-alkali sector,
Gather data on capacity of national infrastructure/ identify facilities that need to develop own storage,
Industry responsibility includes interim storage, transportation, treatment and final disposal
Consideration of economies of scale for regional versus national solutions for final disposal
Plans would provide information on technical and financial assistance needed for implementation, for consideration by the COP and Secretariat.

7. Options for maintaining oversight of mercury stocks and wastes
Review of options/requirements for storage and end disposal site conditions
Storage includes interim and long term (ie monitored warehouse storage, US DoD)
Performance, regulatory review of tech. options for stabilization, solidification
Comparison of costs/risks/benefits
Question of long term durability testing, monitoring containment over time

8. Exhibit by Zero Mercury Working Group at INC 7

9. Ensuring env. sound mgt, including preventing illegal mercury trade, etc.
Ensure physical security of Hg stocks;
Acceptance control/certification of Hg purity before disposal (to avoid situations- like DELA pseudo Hg “waste” to Switzerland);
Use of crash/impact, fireproof UN-approved containers to transport waste, consistent with Basel Convention;
Permanent surveillance and electronic controls when moving Hg containers;
Obligatory chemical identity check when transferring Hg ownership;
Record keeping, reporting which includes distinguishing between Hg commodity vs. waste;
Frequent external evaluation of Hg stocks & movements; and
Public registers to assure openness, transparency.

10. Thank you!