Workshop on Mercury Management in the Latin American and Caribbean Region

Bringing together all relevant stakeholders, the workshop assessed the situation and existing challenges to the management of mercury in the region. The purpose was to explore environmentally sound solutions. It provided a forum for knowledge sharing and aimed to inform mercury management authorities and experts.

Conclusions

Regarding the sound environmental management of mercury, the following conclusion were made:

• Mercury waste management should be carried out as closest to the source as possible. Hence, the principles of self-sufficiency and proximity should be adhered to.
• Stabilization constitutes a useful option for ensuring the environmentally sound management of metallic mercury and facilitates the search for adequate storage.
• Specific, clear and applicable legislation, coupled with effective enforcement mechanisms, is crucial.
• Analytical capacities and adequate technologies are needed for collecting, managing and processing mercury.

The summary report is available in English and Spanish. The corresponding leaflet can be found here.

Presentations

During the workshop, a number of useful presentation were held on a variety of topics related to mercury management:

• Important health aspects related to mercury: English or Spanish
• Technological developments in environmentally sound management: English or Spanish
• Technological developments regarding the stabilization of mercury: English or Spanish
• DELA Stabilization technology for metallic mercury: English
• Mercury management in the chlor-alkali industry: English
• Mercury management in the gold mining sector: English
• Management of mercury containing lamps: English or Spanish
• Management and recycling of mercury lamps: Spanish
• EU legislation on export, storage and disposal of mercury: English or Spanish
• Case study of mercury remediation in a mining / industrial area: English or Spanish
• Project on environmentally sound storage and disposal in Argentina: Spanish
• Project on storage and final disposal in Argentina and Uruguay: English or Spanish