This document provides technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management (ESM) of wastes containing or contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), including hexabromobiphenyl (HBB). It supersedes previous guidelines from 2015 and incorporates updates in accordance with decisions from both the Basel and Stockholm conventions.
The guidelines cover essential topics such as waste prevention, sampling, and safe disposal, providing a clear framework for handling these toxic substances. In addition to waste management practices, it offers advice on identifying and monitoring contaminated sites, as well as the steps needed to clean them up.
The goal is to help governments and organizations develop the legal and regulatory systems needed to safely manage these chemicals, ensuring that public health and the environment are protected.
As part of the GEF-funded and UNEP-led “Global Development, Review and Update of NIPs under the Stockholm Convention on POPs” project, the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) is executing Component 4, focused on disseminating information, managing knowledge and coordinating with the Stockholm Convention Secretariat to provide accessible, integrated tools and resources for all Parties.