Establishing inventories of POP-PBDEs listed under the Stockholm Convention

Stockholm Convention Webinar 12 June 2012

Roland Weber

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Why to develop a POP(-PBDE) Inventory ?

• POP inventories are the basis for prioritization, action plan development and for deciding on management strategies.

• It allows the assessment whether the current country situation meets the SC requirements and where not.

• It provide a basis for the reporting obligations.

• Helps to identify information gaps for prioritization and action plan development.

• To identify the need for further financial/technical support.

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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

• Polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are industrial chemicals widely used as flame retardants since 1970s.

• PBDEs were produced at three degrees of bromination: – Commercial Pentabromodiphenyl ether (c-PentaBDE), production

(most probably) stopped in 2004.

– Commercial Octabromodiphenyl ether (c-OctaBDE) production (most probably) stopped in 2004.

– Commercial DecaBDE (c-DecaBDE) which is still produced.

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POP-BDEs in the Stockholm Convention

• COP4 listed certain congeners from c-PentaBDE and c-OctaBDE in Annex A including tetraBDE, pentaBDE, hexaBDE, and heptaBDE (POP-PBDEs).

O

Br

Br

Br

BrO

Br

Br

Br

Br

BrBr

Prominent POP-PBDE congeners

O

Br

Br

Br

BrBr

BrBr

BDE-47 BDE-154 BDE-183

• The Convention prohibits their use but contains a time-limited exemption for the recycling and use/reuse of articles that may contain POP-PBDEs.

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Life cycle of c-PentaBDE

(adapted from Alcock et al.2003)

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Life cycle of c-OctaBDE

(adapted from Alcock et al.2003)

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• Guide to identify/quantify articles containing POP-PBDEs in import/export, use, stockpiles, recycling and wastes;

• Provide guidance to estimate missing information required to complete the inventory;

• Give information for prioritization in POP-PBDE action plan;

• Assist with identifying gaps for legal and institutional framework for the control of POP-PBDEs

POP-PBDE Inventory Guidance

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Content (Structure of this Guidance)Inventory Guidance for POP-BDEs (Chapter) 1)

Inventory Steps for POP-BDEs (Chapter 3)

Former POP-PBDE production and uses (Chapter 2)

Electronics (Chapter 4) Transportation & end-of-life vehicles (Chapter 5)

Other uses (Chapter 6)

In use Recycle Waste Furniture Textiles Construction materials

Contaminated sites (Chapter 7)

Inventory report

Inventory of POP-BDEs (Chapters 4-7)

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STEPS TO CONDUCT A POP-PBDE INVENTORY

Tiered approach

Establish national inventory team

Define inventory scope

Develop the work plan

Step 2: Choosing data collection methodologies

Step 1: Planning the inventory

Step 4: Managing and evaluating the data

Step 3: Collecting and compiling data from key sectors

EEE in use, stocks, in recycling and waste

Transport sector and end-of-life vehicles

Other uses (e.g. furniture, mattresses, textiles)

Contaminated sites

Identify key stakeholders

Step 5: Preparing the inventory report

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Step 1 – Planning of the Inventory

2. Identification of key stakeholders

• For the different sectors key stakeholders need to be contacted to get access to the necessary information in the different sectors.

• Depending on the needs and availability, stakeholders could become inventory team members or just support with data/information.

1. National inventory team: • Multi-stakeholder inventory team with necessary competences and

access to relevant inventory information for the different sectors.

• This team would comprise government ministries (chemicals and waste management), customs, private sectors, NGOs, research (working on POPs and resource/waste management and possibly material flows).

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Step 1 – Planning of the Inventory3. Objectives and scope :

• Setting objectives of the inventory and decide on scope considering the national circumstances

• Use outcomes of initial assessment for scope setting

• Consider availability/need of resources and capacity

EEE and WEEE

Transport Sector

Other former Uses

Contaminated sites

4. Development of workplan:

• For the different inventory sectors

• Setting time frame

• Allocation of resources for planned activities

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Step 2 – Choosing Methodology for data collection(Tiered approach)

TIER IIIIn depth

inventory

TIER IInitial

Assessment

TIER IIPreliminary inventory

Resources(including. technical)

Site visits, samplingand analysis,

Data collection from identified stakeholders

Complexity of inventory

Outputs/results

Desk study, consultations with stakeholders, information from customs

Overview of focal sectors/Definition of scope

Quantification; Scale of problems in key sectors / data gaps

Quantifications/Screening: Detailed understanding of problems in key sectors

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TRANSPORT

FURNITURE, MATTRESSES, TEXTILES, RUBBER

CONTAMINATED SITES

RECYCLING

EEE/WEEE

CRTMonitor

Step 3 – Collecting and compiling data from sectors

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Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and related waste (WEEE)

• Activities for WEEE management are currently developed under Basel Convention.

• If an inventory of EEE/WEEE was established it would be used for the POP-PBDE inventory.

• Vice versa: if an inventory of EEE/WEEE has not been developed then the development of a POP-PBDE inventory would be the start for developing an EEE/WEEE inventory.

• Synergy approach of the Basel and Stockholm Convention.

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Inventory EEE and WEEE

The inventory of POP-PBDEs EEE/WEEE should address:• Imported (second-hand) EEE and WEEE

• EEE stocks (in use and stored)

• EEE entering the waste stream (WEEE).

• Recycling of WEEE polymers (own/imported polymer)

Adopt of a three step approach:1. Inventory of stocks and flows of EEE/WEEE.

2. Estimate polymer fraction in relevant EEE/WEEE.

3. Estimation of POP-BDEs content in these polymers.

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Inventory considers relevant life cycle stages for data compilation of POP-PBDEs in plastic of EEE/WEEE

POP-PBDE inventory plastics in EEE/WEEE

Import EEE/WEEE

(Section 4.3.4.1)EEE in

use/stock(Section 4.3.4.2)

End-of-Use ElectronicsEnd-of-Life Electronics

(Section 4.3.4.3)

WEEE plastics-for-recycling

(Section 4.4.3.4)

Landfill

Treatment

PARTY/ COUNTRY

Thermal treatmentImport

used plastics-for-recycling

(Section 4.3.4.4)

Export(Sec. 4.3.4.4)

Export(Sec. 4.3.4.1)

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Transport Sector

• Large material flows of goods and waste:

– Cars, busses, trucks, trains, planes, ships

• End-of-life management:

– Recovery of materials and of managing pollutants.

• POP-PBDEs in transport:

– C-PentaBDE: major use in flexible PUR foams (seating; head rests; car ceilings, back-coating of textiles).

– C-OctaBDE: Minor use in plastics parts (dashboards; door panels, steering wheels; bumpers).

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Importvehicles

(Section 5.3.6)Vehicles in use/stock

(Section 5.3.5)

End-of-use vehicleEnd-of-life vehicles

(Section 5.3.7)

Plastic/PUR foam-for-recycling

(Section 5.3.10)

Landfill(Section 5.3.8)

Treatment

Exportvehicles

(Section 5.3.6)

PARTY/Country

Thermal treatmentImport

polymers-for-recycling

(Section 5.3.10; section 4.3.4.4)

Exportpolymers-for-

recyclingSection 5.3.10

The inventory considers relevant life cycle stages for data compilation of POP-PBDEs in polymers of the transport sector

POP-PBDE inventory polymers in vehicles

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POP-PBDE inventory transport sector NigeriaIn a pilot project in Nigeria POP-PBDE inventories have been developed for vehicles (1980 to 2010) and EEE/WEEE sectors.

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POP-PBDE in other uses

Other former uses of POP-BDEs (furniture, mattresses, textiles, in construction, rubber, and drilling operation) are thought to be of minor relevance for most countries due to:

• Relative low overall use volumes of POP-BDEs in most of these other application (except c-PentaBDE in furniture);

• Lack of flammability standards in most countries for these use areas (standards for furniture e.g. in US and UK);

• Limited export of such flame retarded (used) articles from countries with flammability standards.

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• Furniture/mattresses: Countries with flammability standards or imports from these countries.

• Textiles: Limited volume of c-PentaBDE has been used on textiles. Considering that Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) is used in textile the sector will become more POPs relevant.

• Construction: C-PentaBDE in rigid PUR-foam in some regions. Considering that the main use of HBCDD is in insulation materials (XPS and EPS) the sector will become more POPs relevant.

POP-PBDE in other uses

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CONTAMINATED SITES

PBDEs

Fate of POP-PBDE contamination

Surface water

Wastewater Treatment

Plant

Agriculture Domestic Sources

Transportation

Landfill & non-recycled

waste

Industrial Pollution

Soil

Groundwater

Biosolids

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Annexes to POP-PBDE Inventory Guidance

1 . SC-4/18: Listing of tetrabromodiphenyl and pentabromodiphenyl ether

2. SC-4/14 Listing of hexabromodiphenyl and heptabromodiphenyl ether

3. List of E-waste inventories from developing countries

4. Questionaire for EEE importers

5. Questionaire for households (EEE)

6. Questionaire for corporate and institutional consumers

7. Questionaire for recyclers

8. Case study on inventory of PBDEs in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and related waste (WEEE)

9. Case study on PBDE in the Transport Sector

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Step 4 – Managing and evaluating the data

Evaluation and improvement of the data– Gaps and limitations of the inventory and measures needed

to complete the inventory (possibly go to step 2 or 3)

– Evaluation if the obligations under the SC are fulfilled

– Evaluation of the need of notification exemptions for recycling/reuse under the Convention.

• The inventory data and the evaluation will be the basis for the development of an Action Plan for POP- PBDE containing materials and updating the NIP.

• Gaps, limitations and necessary actions will be valuable information in the NIP, and can be used for applying for funding

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Step 4 – Managing and evaluating the data

Data management

• Assessment what information to use for reporting

• Inventory data would be managed in a database

• Data shared with other (governmental) institutions.

• Data of EEE/WEEE and transport are valuable for the (waste) management of these material flows.

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Step 5 – Preparing an inventory report

The essential elements of the report:

• Objectives and scope

• Description of data methodology and data gathering

• Final results of the inventory in each sector considered a priority for that country (using a format to be provided in the guidelines, as such or adapted from that format)

• Results of the gap-analysis and limitations identified

• Further actions to complete inventory and recommendations.

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Thank You for Your Attention

http://www.pops.intssc@pops.int