New report on problems with toxic ash after incineration:


Uruguay | Apr 20, 2005



The Dioxin, PCBs and Waste WG of IPEN report demonstrates that waste incineration residues represent a serious threat to both local and global environment as they contain high quantities of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (U-POPs) listed under Annex C of the Stockholm Convention (dioxins, PCBs and hexachlorobenzene). This study also shows that especially waste incineration fly ash and APC residues contain also high levels of other POPs not listed under Stockholm Convention (for example polychlorinated naphthalens or polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans etc.). It summarizes studies showing leachability of dioxins from fly ashes under conditions they are disposed off. Hot spots case studies shows that levels of dioxins in ashes from waste incineration below the level proposed as a limit for low POPs content in wastes to be adopted at first Conference of Parties to Stockholm Convention (COP1) are too high to prevent serious contamination of the environment by U-POPs.

Recommendations concerning three crucial decisions on U-POPs policy

Toolkit:

This study results don't suggest the approval of UNEP's Toolkit by COP1.

POPs levels in wastes:

Cases of dangerous contamination of the environment don't support approval of "low POPs content levels" and "levels of destruction and irreversible transformation" as they were proposed by the documents prepared within the framework of the Basel Convention to COP1.

BAT/BEP Guidelines:

High levels of POPs in waste incineration residues raise the importance of using techniques other than waste incineration and/or landfilling of wastes in these guidelines. It also raises the importance of material substitution - the replacement of materials such as PVC, a material whose presence in the combustion processes helps to create more dioxins. BAT/BEP Guidelines should be considered as work in progress at COP1.

For whole study - see attachment below.



Attachment:
   Report on problems with toxic ash after incineration, prepared by the IPEN Dioxin, PCBs and Wastes WG. - ENGLISH   DOWNLOAD






Version: DRAFT 2.0 (June 1, 2006)