On 28 October 2024 (14:00-16:00 CET), the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) hosted the online training webinar "Introduction to PCBs and Development of Comprehensive PCB Inventories for National Implementation Plans".
This webinar provided a comprehensive overview of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), focusing on their toxicity and environmental impact. The session focused on the essential steps for developing PCB inventories, including identification, tracking, and record management. Key practices for handling PCB-containing equipment, safe packaging, transportation, and interim storage were shared.
The webinar also discussed disposal technologies for proper management (like plasma arc systems) and disposal of PCB-containing equipment, in alignment with the guidelines set forth by the Stockholm Convention. Emphasis will be placed on the global phase-out efforts of PCBs by 2025, ensuring participants understand regulatory compliance and ongoing initiatives to minimize and ultimately eliminate PCB pollution through safe disposal technologies.
More information and guidance documents on PCBs are available on the website of the Stockholm Convention.
Objectives
- Provide participants with an overview of PCBs, their toxicity
- Gain a thorough understanding of the steps involved in developing inventories of PCBs
- Share PCB identification, tracking, and record management practices and methods
- Provide participants with the main aspects of the management of PCBs, and PCB-containing equipment, including interim storage, packaging, and transportation
- Guide participants on the interim storage of PCBs, PCB-containing equipment, and PCB waste
- Share action steps on disposal of PCBs, PCB-containing equipment, and PCB waste
- Introduce participants to the various PCB destruction technologies available
Target audience
- Stockholm Convention Official Contact Points and National Focal Points particularly from project countries
- National officials and experts involved in the process of reviewing and updating the NIPs
- Practitioners working on POPs inventory and management
- Members of NIP National Coordinating Mechanism/ Committees and Project Coordination Units/Thematic Task Groups
- Representatives of Regional Centers and relevant stakeholders
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CET 14:00 |
Agenda |
Speaker |
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Welcome and Opening Remarks |
Ms. Anastasiya Buchok, Component 4, GGKP |
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14:10 |
Introduction to PCBs, its environmental and health impacts. Steps of PCB inventory development. |
Dr Thomas Paramanandam Additional Director (rtd) Central Power Research Institute
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14:40 |
PCB identification, tracking, and record management. |
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15:00 |
PCB and PCB-containing equipment management, including interim storage, packaging, and transportation. |
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15:30 |
Disposal of PCBs, PCB-containing equipment and PCB waste. Available PCB destruction technologies. |
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15:40 |
Panel discussion and Q&A session |
Dr. Thomas Paramanandam (Additional Director (rtd) Central Power Research Institute) Urs K.Wagner (Senior International PCB & Asbestos Expert, ETI Environmental Technology Ltd., Switzerland) Ms. Eaint Me Me (Staff Officer, Pollution Control Division, Environmental Conservation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar) |
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16: 00 |
Closing remarks |
Ms. Anastasiya Buchok, Component 4, GGKP |
In French: https://www.greenpolicyplatform.org/Zdk
In Spanish: https://www.greenpolicyplatform.org/Zd4
In Russian: https://www.greenpolicyplatform.org/ZdJ