NARRATIVE REPORT
General part
Toxic Free Europe -2
FRI (Belarus), Eco-Accord (Russia) and “MAMA-86” (Ukraine) have finalized the
implementation of a new joint project entitled “Toxic Free Europe -2”: NGO actions for
sustainable chemicals management and the implementation of SAICM in Belarus, Russia and
Ukraine.
Responsible persons:
FRI: Eugeniy Lobanov, Head of Program on Chemical Safety, e-mail:
lobanow@yahoo.com
Eco-Accord: Olga Speranskaya, Head of Program on Chemical Safety, e-mail:
speransk2004@mail.ru; http://www.ecoaccord.org;
“MAMA-9”, Olga Tsyguleva, Head of @MAMA-86-Kharkov”, e-mail: tsyguleva@mail.ru
The overall goal of the project is to contribute to SAICM objective of a Toxics Free Future and
to reduce the exposure and spreading of hazardous chemicals through targeted information
activities in three counties. The project is aimed at informing national and local authorities,
industry, NGOs, academia, and press in the EECCA region about environmentally sound and
economically feasible non-combustion technologies on waste management including the
destruction of POPs in waste, and on supporting concrete measures to solve the problems of
stockpiles of obsolete pesticides.
Project beneficiaries:
 Local authorities, responsible for chemical policy, and environmental protection in the
EECCA region.
 Chemical and waste-management industry in the EECCA region.
 Local, regional and national environmental NGOs in the EECCA region, involved in
addressing issues of chemical safety and waste management including destruction of
POPs in waste.
 Scientific and research academia working on issues of chemical safety.
 Students.
 Local communities.
 Business associations.
Project main outcomes:
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Increased stakeholder awareness on non-combustion technologies of waste
management;
Increased public/civil society awareness in management and destruction of stockpiles
of obsolete pesticides and PCB, including PCB contaminated equipment;
Stakeholders are provided with good practice examples on waste destruction including
POPs in waste;
The database on non-combustion technologies of waste management consisting of 72
technologies is formed;
The database on non-combustion technologies of waste management consisting of 72
technologies is displayed at the website formed specifically for the purpose of the
project;
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The website is made accessible for all stakeholders;
Ways to further disseminate information about the database of non-combustion
technologies of waste management are analysed;
Strategy for further information dissemination about the database of non-combustion
technologies of waste management is developed.
Volunteers interested in further dissemination of information about the database are
identified;
CD disk with database technologies is printed and disseminated via stakeholders in the
EECCA region;
Strategy for further use of the database as an education material for students interested
in waste management and chemical safety is prepared.
During project implementation the following activities have been carried out:
1. Creating a database (software and online version) of different environmentally sound
and economically feasible non-combustion technologies on waste destruction including
POPs in waste and good practice examples of sustainable chemicals management.
2. Establishing an Expert Panel for evaluation of different technologies and potential
elements of the database.
3. Establishing a Database Updating Committee consisting of representatives of
environmental NGOs from different EECCA countries.
4. Holding three national round tables in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine which became
forums for presenting the database and discussing issues on sustainable chemicals
management and SAICM implementation.
5. Preparing and disseminating information materials about the database and its usefulness
for stakeholder activities.
Detailed description of the activities implemented during the project.
1. Creating a database (software and online version) of different environmentally sound
and economically feasible non-combustion technologies on waste destruction including
POPs in waste and good practice examples of sustainable chemicals management.
Database consists of the following sections:
a. Technical description of a technology;
b. Description of economic benefits of a particular technology;
c. Description of ecological consequences of the implementation of a particular
technological process;
d. Good practice examples of the use of a particular technology in different
countries including the EECCA if data is available;
e. Relevant comments of NGOs and scientific experts (evaluation and assessment),
where appropriate.
f. Photos if available;
g. Contact information of vendor.
Prepared data base consists of the description of 72 non-combustion technological
processes on waste management including the destruction of POPs in waste, which could be
the most important for the use in the EECCA region.
The data base is available on-line at: http://www.noburntech.info
and off-line on CD. Database is formed in Russian with technical opportunity to add English
version in the future.
Such a database in the Russian language is being developed for the first time. The database
information would allow interested producers and consumers to get information on all tested
industrial-scale technologies; technologies approaching the stage of industrial application;
promising laboratory-scale tested technologies with good chances of further development, as
well as on underdeveloped technologies with unclear capacity, that are likely to reach an
industrial application scale in the case of further research.
In addition to brief description of technological processes, the database contains information on
relevant economic considerations, waste treatment costs, health and environmental safety data,
contact information of developers and equipment suppliers.
Technologies for incorporation into the database were selected at the base of the following
key criteria:
1. Health and environmental safety of technological processes.
2. The level of destruction of hazardous components.
3. Waste treatment costs
4. Economic and environmental efficiency relevant for East Europe, Caucasus and Central
Asia (EECCA) region from.
Information on alternative non-incineration waste management technologies was collected from
different sources, including information materials of the Global Environmental Facility, the
World Bank, UNEP, US EPA, as well as publications of theoretical conferences and specialised
seminars. Besides that, information on technologies was provided by R&D institutes and
laboratories operating in the sphere of waste treatment, as well as by NGOs.
Therefore, the database is a unique collection of information materials on experiences of
different countries and organisation in the sphere of safe waste management. For the first time,
the database allowed a broad range of readers to get access to information in some technologies
that were developed in the EECCA countries.
Below is a brief description of the technologies listed in the database.
Category A: Commercialised industrial technologies
The section incorporates descriptions of technologies, that are applied in operational industrial
installations and have been issued licenses for elimination of hazardous organic compounds,
including persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These technologies are characterised by high
destruction efficiencies (DE) of POPs components - from 99.999% to 99.9999% or higher.
Besides that, the section contains information on operational industrial installations for
treatment/utilisation of production and consumption waste, and describes technologies for
decontamination of sites after industrial accidents (remediation of oil pollution).
This section also contains information on good practice examples of the use of this type of
technologies in different countries.
Category B: Technologies near or at the start of commercialisation
The section contains descriptions of technologies for elimination of hazardous waste, including
POPs, that are applied in operational pilot-scale installations and in industrial installations at the
stage of construction. These technologies are claimed to be suitable for POPs treatment. Such
claims need independent proof (DE over 99.9999% and no generation of toxic by-products). The
section also contains descriptions of technologies for processing of production and consumption
waste, that are being prepared for industrial-scale application.
Category C: Promising technologies
Waste processing technologies in this section have been successfully tested in laboratories and
were applied in pilot-scale projects. These technologies need additional research to demonstrate
their potential industrial capacity.
Category D: Technologies that need a significant research
Waste treatment technologies in this section are not sufficiently studied and their potential still
remains unclear. Some of them might be placed in other sections, however, lack of available
information does not allow to make a definite choice. It is also possible, that some techniques,
that were identified as inappropriate, might be successfully developed into commercially
applicable ones. However, due to lack of information, these technologies were placed into this
section.
Category A: Commercialised industrial technologies
The section incorporates technologies, that are applied in operational industrial installations and
have been issued licenses for elimination of hazardous by-products, including POPs:
1.
Gas phase chemical reduction (GPCR process)
2.
Base catalysed decomposition
3.
Sodium reduction
4.
DARAMEND process
5.
Bioremediation of soils and sediments with use of dried blood
6.
Supercritical water oxidation
7.
PLASCON process
8.
Plasma centrifuge treatment
9.
Plasma converter
10.
GeoMelt process
11.
Thermal desorbtion in situ
12.
Biodynamic waste treatment technology
13.
Cleaning of oil pollution by Ecolan
14.
Cleaning of oil pollution by Ecolan oil sorbent
15.
Bioremediation of soils contaminated by polychlorinated biphelyls (PCBs) with
application of destructing microorganisms
16.
Local treatment of concentrated phenol/cresol waste in aerobic bioreactors with
enhanced oxidation capacity
17.
Microbiological destruction of organochlorine waste (inc. distillation residues) with
use of developed microflora of operational anaerobic digesters
18.
Anaerobic fermentation of sulphide-containing waste with use of adapter anaerobic
microflora of technical installations (anaerobic digesters)
19.
Cryogenic crushing of tires and rubber items
20.
Mechanic treatment of tires
21.
Treatment of PET bottles
22.
A line for PET bottles processing
Category B. Technologies near or at the start of commercialisation
The section contains descriptions of technologies for elimination of hazardous by-products,
including POPs, that are applied in operational pilot-scale installations and in industrial
installations at the stage of construction. These technologies are claimed to be suitable for POPs
treatment. Such claims need independent proof (DE over 99.9999% and no generation of toxic
by-products).
1.
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11.
Mechanic-chemical dehalogenation (MCD process)
Solvated electron process (SOLV process)
Xenorem process
CerOx process
Ultrasonic destruction
Molten salt oxidation
Oxidation in soda recovery reactors
High temperature/pressure incineration
Anaerobic fermentation of pesticides by adapted anaerobic microflora of technical
installations (anaerobic digesters)
A modified process of biological treatment of concentrated agro-industrial waste by a
special association of microorganisms (a variation)
Pyrolysis of crushed used tires in absence of air
Category C. Promising technologies
Chemicals and waste processing technologies in this section have been successfully tested in
laboratories and were applied in pilot-scale projects. These technologies need additional research
to demonstrate their potential industrial capacity.
1.
2.
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7.
8.
Catalytic hydrogenation
TDR-3R process
Mediated electrochemical oxidation (AEA Silver II process)
Soil bioremediation in situ
Phytoremediation
Phytotechnologies
Comprehensive soil remediation (destruction of some classes of pesticides)
Regeneration of chemical agents and use of lignosulphonates: production of iron
preparations at the base of technical grade lignosulphonates.
Category D. Other technologies
Waste treatment technologies of this category are not sufficiently studied and their potential still
remains unclear. Some of them might be placed in other sections, however, lack of available
information does not allow to make a definite choice. It is also possible, that some techniques,
that were identified as inappropriate, might be successfully developed into commercially
applicable ones. However, due to lack of information, these technologies were placed into
Category D.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
MnOx/TiO2-Al2O3 catalyst degradation
TiO2 - based V2O5/WO3 catalyst decomposition
Fe(III) photocatalyst decomposition
Ozonation in electric discharge
Molten metals (ММТ process)
Molten slag process
7.
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10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Photochemically enhanced biodecomposition
Biodegradation/Fenton's reaction
White rot fungi biodegradation
Enzyme degradation
Electrolysis in microemulsions
Photocatalytic degradation with application of TiO2
Electron beam treatment
Ozonation
Technologies for treatment of medical waste
This section contains descriptions of alternative non-incineration technologies for treatment of
medical waste.
The problem of disinfection, elimination and processing of medical waste becomes increasingly
relevant. Numbers of health care facilities continue to increase, as well as numbers of
vaccination procedures performed. These (and other) developments result in growing amounts of
medical waste and sometimes treatment of medical waste becomes uncontrolled.
Health care facilities rely on different waste management methods, including landfill disposal,
open burning of medical waste and application of small waste incinerators.
Disposal of medical waste at landfills results in higher risks of spread of contagious diseases.
In the case of incineration of medical waste, staff members of health care facilities, patients and
residents at nearly territories are exposed to toxic by-products of incineration processes,
including dioxins, furans, mercury, lead, hydrogen chloride, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
and particulates. Besides that, incineration processes produce toxic ash and its elimination still
remains very problematic. Such incineration products as POPs and other persistent toxic
compounds may migrate to long distances, bioaccumulate and pose major health and
environmental risks.
At the same time, there are alternative non-incineration technologies for treatment of medical
waste (including autoclaves, microwave irradiation and application of chemical agents). These
technologies are actively applied in developed countries.
This section contains descriptions of the most widely applied alternative non-incineration
technologies for treatment of medical waste (the information was provided by Health Care
Without Harm Europe, www.noharm.org).
Apart from the information above, the database contains information about NGOs - participants
of the project (FRI, Eco-Accord, MAMA-86) and ChemSec, as well as relevant information
about chemicals management in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine and links to relevant web-sites.
The Database is put on the website formed specifically for this purpose. The website address:
http://www.noburntech.info
Interested stakeholders have free access to the website and will have a possibility to provide new
and additional information to the database. Thus the proposed data base will become a useful and
up to day tool for waste destruction in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the
EECCA region.
2. Establishing an Expert Panel for evaluation of different technologies and potential
elements of the database.
During project implementation an Expert Panel was established for evaluation of different
technologies and potential elements of the database. The Expert Panel consists of 22 designated
experts working in the field of toxic waste and sustainable chemicals management. The list of
experts and their resume can be downloaded from: http://www.noburntech.info/experts/
Each expert provided comments on specific technologies and formulated their common position
on the database of alternative non-incineration waste management technologies, assessed its
importance for addressing problems of adequate and safe waste management; for training of
environmental specialists; for public awareness raising and for professional support of decisionmaking in the sphere of environment.
3. Establishing a Database Updating Committee consisting of representatives of
environmental NGOs from different EECCA countries.
During project implementation a Database Updating Committee consisting of NGO
representative was established. It is responsible for selecting and reviewing examples of the
relevant new technological processes and for bringing examples of new technologies to the
attention of the Panel of Experts for further consideration. They are also responsible for updating
the database with approved technologies. While choosing certain technology, the Database
Updating Committee will analyze environment and health impact of the technology, its
economic effectiveness, as well as possibility to use in the EECCA region.
4. Holding three national round tables in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine which became
forums for presenting the database and discussing issues on sustainable chemicals
management and SAICM implementation.
The database was presented during three national round tables which were organized in Belarus,
Russia and Ukraine with broad participation of local authorities, NGOs, chemical industry, and
scientists.
5. Preparing and disseminating information materials about the database and its usefulness
for stakeholder activities.
During project implementation information about the Database was disseminated via NGO News
Services hosted by Eco-Accord, FRI and MAMA-86, IPEN and GAIA list serves.
Information about the Database was presented at The Conference on Waste Management in
Kharkov, and at the sub-regional Workshop "Towards a Toxic Free Future" (Impact of Toxic
Chemicals on the Environment and Public Health in Central Asia: Ways to Address Problems) in
Almaty.
Belarusian part of the project
Recipient NGO: environmental group FRI
Address: P.O.BOX 21, Minsk-220141, Belarus
Contact person: Eugeniy Lobanov, project coordinator
Ph: +375 29 658 74 45
Fax: +375 17 285 81 44
e-mail: lobanow@yahoo.com
Responsibilities in frame of the project:
1. Participation in development of the structure of the database;
2. Ensuring of creation of software and web-interface components of the database;
3. Hosting of the database;
4. Updating of the database during the project period;
5. Disseminating information about the database via Greenbel news service among
environmental NGOs and other relevant target group representatives in Belarus.
6. Replication of the database on CDs for dissemination in Belarus, and other countries
of EECCA region.
7. Organizing a round table to be held in Belarus for presenting the database to
stakeholders.
8. Participation in two round tables to be organised in Russia and Ukraine.
1. Participation in development of the structure of the database:
FRI has developed the draft technical structure of the database which was further discussed and
agreed with Eco-Accord and Mama-86.
The following structure has been agreed:
Structure of the website
 Main page (Project description, links to other pages).
 News.
 Informational materials/library.
 Database itself.
 How to add the technology into the database.
 Expert Committee.
 Description of the project partners.
 Cooperation with the project.
 Links.
Structure of the database
Parameters:
 Title of the technology
 Type of the technology
 Technical description of a technology;
 Description of economic benefits of the particular technology;
 Description of ecological consequences of the implementation of a particular
technological process;
 Good practice examples of the use of a particular technology in different
countries including the EECCA if data is available;
 Relevant comments of NGOs and scientific experts (evaluation and assessment),
where appropriate.
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Photos if available;
Contact information of vendor.
The site enables the user to search within the database on several parameters.
The database enables updating by project administrator.
The website includes web-mail, listserves, polls.
2. Ensuring of creation of the software component and web-interface components of the
database:
An agreement has been made with one of the leading IT-companies in Belarus Astronim*
(www.astronim.com). Based on technical Terms of References (which included design,
HTML-templates, Astro-CMS with different modules, SEO, registration of the database
within search engines and catalogues, and make-up of the information) provided by FRI, the
company developed the software, web-interface and management system of the database. For
the web-interface a special web-site (www.noburntech.info) was developed. The developed
software allows project staff to update/change the database and the web-site without external
support.
3. Hosting of the database: the web-site (www.noburntech.info) is hosted in Moscow’s
technical platform, which belongs to the Belarusian company RealSoft
(www.tutby.com). The hosting for the web-site is prepaid for 3 years until 2010.
4. Updating of the database during the project period: the information about particular
technologies/practices after receiving from Eco-Accord and MAMA-86, was
technically checked and divided into blocks by FRI technical assistant. After
finalising the completed database forms have been sending to Astronim. At present
FRI updates the database itself.
5.
Disseminating information about the database via Greenbel news service among
environmental NGOs and other relevant target group representatives in Belarus:
the information about the project itself, the database, and the round table within the
project has been disseminated via Greenbel news service, which unites more than 130 of
environmental NGOs in Belarus. The Greenbel news service is a joint initiative of NGOs
FRI and Ecohome, and is technically supported by FRI.
6. Replication of the database on CDs for dissemination in Belarus, and other countries
of EECCA region: the database was also prepared in CD version. This version
includes a CD itself and a small leaflet about the project.
7. Organizing a round table to be held in Belarus for presenting the database to
stakeholders:
The round table presentation was organized by FRI on 8th of February 2007. The agenda for
the presentation was the following:
09:30 -10:00
10:00-10:15
Registration of participants
Presentation of the project and participants
10:15-11:00
11:00 – 11:30
11:30 – 12:30
12:30 – 13:00
13:00 – 13:20
13:20 -13:40
13:40 – 14:40
Presentation of the database
Eugeniy Lobanov, FRI
Olga Speranskaya, Eco-Accord
Olga Tsyguleva, MAMA-86
Coffe-break
Discussion about the database, and its possible use by governmental and nongovernmental organizations.
The role of NGOs in SAICM implementation
Eugeniy Lobanov
Olga Speranskaya
Possibility for public participation in the SAICM implementation in Belarus
Irina Zastenskaya, SAICM focal point in Belarus
Conclusions
Lunch
At the presentation we had representatives of all leading state environmental health agencies,
academia, environmental, labour, and women NGOs, and mass media.
We think that the presentation became a very important event for the dissemination of
information about the database and strengthening co-operation between GOs and NGOs.
After the presentation, FRI representative Eugeniy Lobanov gave interviews to a number of
journalists from Belarusian newspapers and radio stations. We exactly know about 3 radio
programs (10, 15 min and 25 min) devoted to the database on 1st channel of Belarusian radio,
and Radio Belarus.
8. Participation in two round tables to be organised in Russia and Ukraine:
FRI took part in two round tables organised in Kiev (Ukraine) and Moscow (Russia) on
February, 7 and 9 respectively. Participation in these workshops was very important for us,
as we were able to discuss the database and our activity for chemical safety in general with
stakeholders from different countries. FRI representative made a presentation about SAICM
in Kiev, and technical presentation of the database in Kiev and Moscow.
General conclusions from FRI:
We consider this project as very effective one, especially in terms of providing alternatives for
toxics chemicals/chemical waste management in Belarus and other countries of EECCA. Many
countries in this region are implementing Stockholm Convention on POPs, which requires
elimination of POPs chemicals. Also, implementation of SAICM requires implementation of
sustainable chemicals management practices and policies. The completed project allowed us to
contribute to implementation of these important environmental agreements by providing
information about sustainable chemicals/waste management practices.
Another important result for us is strengthening of civil society organizations, working on
chemicals safety in the region. Creation of the database by means of NGOs shows that NGOs are
strong partners in development and implementation of national chemicals management policy.
It is necessary admit, the importance of a dialogue between NGOs, authorities, and industry,
which have taken place during the project implementation, and which, hopefully, will continue
after. We think that Belarusian authorities appreciated information in the database was produced
by NGOs.
Russian part of the project
Recipient NGO: Eco-Accord
Address: P.O. Box 43, Moscow 129090, Russia
Contact person: Eugeniy Lobanov, project coordinator
Olga Speranskaya, Head of Eco-Accord Program on Chemical Safety,
Ph: 7-495-624-4004
Fax: 7-495-624-4004
speransk2004@mail.ru
http://www.ecoaccord.org
ECO-ACCORD RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE FRAME OF THE PROJECT
1. Participation in the development of the structure of the database;
2. Collecting information for the database;
3. Preparing short descriptions of technological processes;
4. Organizing expert evaluation and assessment;
5. Organizing a round table for presenting the database to stakeholders;
6. Replication of the database on CDs for dissemination in Russia.
7. Participation in two round tables organised in Belarus and Ukraine;
8. Disseminating information about the database via Eco-Accord news service among the
EECCA NGOs, local authorities, business and scientific community;
9. Reporting to ChemSec.
1. PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE
DATABASE
Eco-Accord participated in the development of the structure of the database. Now it
incorporates technologies for neutralisation and utilisation of production and consumption of
waste, technologies for elimination of persistent organic pollutants, as well as methods of
disinfection, elimination and treatment of medical waste.
The Database also incorporates links to other relevant websites as well as links to Eco-Accord
website (www.ecoaccord.org) which contains important information on sustainable chemicals
management in Russia and other EECCA countries. It also contains complete survey of the
Russian state policy on chemical safety prepared during first stage of the common project “A
Toxic Free Europe-1”.
2. COLLECTING INFORMATION FOR THE DATABASE
Eco-Accord collected information on tested industrial-scale technologies; technologies
approaching the stage of industrial application; promising laboratory-scale tested technologies
with good chances of further development; as well as on underdeveloped technologies with
unclear capacity, that are likely to reach an industrial application scale in the case of further
research.
Eco-Accord made a special overview of methods of disinfection, elimination and treatment of
medical waste.
In addition to brief description of technological processes, Eco-Accord collected information on
relevant economic considerations, waste treatment costs, health and environmental safety data,
contact information of developers and equipment suppliers.
During the process of collecting information about the technologies Eco-Accord communicated
directly with the producers and some times with vendors of certain technologies. This made it
possible to collect the most appropriate technologies for the incorporation into the database.
While collecting information about the technologies Eco-Accord analysed huge number of
information sources including but not limited to information materials of the Global
Environmental Facility, the World Bank, UNEP, US EPA, UNITAR. It collected information
published by theoretical conferences and specialised seminars held in different countries
including those of the EECCA region. Besides that, information on technologies was provided
by research and development institutes and laboratories operating in the sphere of waste
treatment, as well as by NGOs.
Eco-Accord established contacts with technology producers in different EECCA countries. Thus
it will be able for Eco-Accord to continue its activities aimed at updating the Database with new
and additional information on non-combustion technologies of waste management.
It must be said that Eco-Accord collected lots of useful information for the Database during its
participation in the meeting of the Working Group on BAT&BEP to the Stockholm Convention
held in Geneva, November, 2007. Eco-Accord communicated directly with technology producers
from Japan, Canada, USA, and other countries who expressed real interest in providing
information for the Database.
Eco-Accord would like to express great acknowledgement to UNITAR and to Dr. Zoltan
Cheazer in particular for providing us with very important information about non-combustion
technologies being developed and used in Japan.
Eco-Accord would also like to thank Natalia Voronovich, Head of Environmental Centre of
Analytical Control, Kaustic Joint-Stock Company, Volgograd, Russia, for providing us with
unique data on biological destruction of toxic waste including POPs in wastes.
While collecting materials for the Database lots of English language sources were analyzed.
Relevant materials collected for the inclusion into the Database were translated from English into
Russian and edited according to the structure of the technology description agreed upon by other
project participants.
3. PREPARING SHORT DESCRIPTIONS OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES
After collecting relevant information from different primary and secondary sources Eco-Accord
prepared short description of technological processes based on the following approach:
 The essence of the proposed technological process
 Short description of the technological process
 Preliminary preparation of materials (if necessary)
 Constructive features
 Capacity
 Field of application
 Environmental efficiency
 Emission into the air and by-products
 Economic performance
 Practical aspects and problems (good practice examples of the use of a particular
technology in different countries)
 Contact information of producers
 Why this technology was chosen for incorporation into the Database?
 Sources of information
The description of methods of disinfection, elimination and treatment of medical waste
prepared by Eco-Accord differs from the description presented above. The Database contains
special section on medical waste which consists of the following parts:
 Introduction to Non-Incineration Medical Waste Treatment Technologies;
 Low-heat thermal technologies: autoclaves and other steam based systems
How it works?
Types of waste treated
Emission and by-products
Microbial inactivation
Advantages and disadvantages of the technology
Good practice examples of the use of a certain technology in different countries
 Microwave systems
How it works?
Types of waste treated
Emission and by-products
Microbial inactivation
Advantages and disadvantages of the technology
Good practice examples of the use of a certain technology in different countries

Chemical based technologies
How it works?
Types of waste treated
Emission and by-products
Microbial inactivation
Advantages and disadvantages of the technology
Good practice examples of the use of a certain technology in different countries
Such description of methods of disinfection, elimination and treatment of medical waste made it
possible to unite the most relevant technologies which are broadly used in Europe.
Eco-Accord acknowledges Health Care Without Harm Europe which provided us with this
information and expert opinion on each of the described method of disinfection, elimination and
treatment of medical waste.
4.ORGANIZING EXPERT EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT
Each technology chosen and described by Eco-Accord went through expert evaluation and
assessment. Eco-Accord invited several designated experts into the project. They represent
scientific and research institutes, business and NGOs. Each expert provided Eco-Accord with
brief resume confirming their level pf expertise in waste management. All experts working on
technology evaluation and assessment are included into the Expert Panel. Their names and
contact details can be downloaded from the Database website at:
http://www.noburntech.info/experts/
It must be noted that each technology included into the Database received positive reference
from the Expert Panel. Not a signal technology listed in the Database avoided expert evaluation
and assessment.
5. ORGANIZING A ROUND TABLE FOR PRESENTING THE DATABASE TO
STAKEHOLDERS
In Russia the round table was organized by Eco-Accord and held on February, 9, 2007.
The Agenda of the round table included the following main presentations:
1. Goal and objectives of the Round table – by Olga Speranskaya, Head of Eco-Accord
Program on Chemical Safety
2. Presentation of the common Database of non-combustion technologies of waste
management – by Olga Speranskaya, Head of Eco-Accord Program on Chemical Safety,
Olga Tsyguleva, Head of MAMA-86-Kharkov, Eugene Lobanow, Head of FRI Chemical
Campaign
3. Problems of waste management addressed by different Multinational Environmental
Agreements such as The Stockholm Convention on POPs, Basel Convention and The
Strategic Approach to the International Chemicals Management - by Olga Speranskaya,
Head of Eco-Accord Program on Chemical Safety
4. Importance of the Database of non-combustion technologies of waste management for
meeting of the obligations under chemicals conventions in Russia – by Oksana Tsitser,
State Committee on Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Control;
5. Importance of the Database of non-combustion technologies of waste management for
the implementation of the National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention in
Russia – by Natalia Kaplunova, Centre of International Projects, Russia
6. Comparative analysis of technologies of waste management based on high temperature
incineration and non-combustion technologies of waste management– by Yuri Treguer,
Head of “Synthesis” Scientific and Production Centre
7. Biological technologies to decontaminate toxic wastes – by Guennady Jarikov, professor,
Scientific and Research Centre On Toxicology And Hygienic Regulation Of Bioproducts,
Serpukhov, Russia
8. Microbiological destruction of chlorinated wastes – by Naytalia Voronovich, Head of
Environmental Centre of Analytical Control, Kaustic Joint-Stock Company, Volgograd,
Russia
9. Used automobile tire reprocessing using low temperature technology – Roman Guirshik,
deputy head of Turbotechmash Company
10. PET Reprocessing - by Aleksei Maslennikov, Ekoström Recycling, Moscow, Russia
The round table was attended by representatives of state environmental and health agencies,
academia, business, non-governmental organisations, mass media.
During the overall discussion the participants of the round table addressed the issue of obsolete
pesticide stockpiles and soil remediation. Technologies aimed at PCB destruction and the
destruction of chlorinated obsolete pesticides were presented.
Special attention was paid on the need to use the precautionary principle while choosing the
appropriate technology for waste management. The round table participants emphasized the
necessity to avoid the emission of toxic substances during the use of a certain technology on
waste reprocessing or waste destruction. The presentation focused on comparative analysis of
technologies of waste management based on high temperature incineration and non-combustion
technologies of waste management was of great interest for the participants of the meeting.
NGO representatives participating in the Round table addressed the issue of public participation
in the inventory of obsolete pesticides, PCB and PCB contaminated equipment. They all
indicated the importance of the Database for NGOs and community groups in their activities
aimed at POPs elimination and the destruction of POPs in wastes.
Special attention was paid on the need to start information and awareness campaign aimed at
further dissemination information about the Database among interested groups including NGOs,
local authorities, business and governmental structures. The participants of the round table
suggested different approaches aimed at further disseminating the information about the
Database among interested stakeholders including publications in media, scientific and industrial
journals, links to other websites, different meetings on chemical safety, etc.
It was noted that prepared database is important for the EECCA region as it is based on
economic and environmental efficiency of a certain technology which is very important for this
region.
6. REPLICATION OF THE DATABASE ON CD FOR DISSEMINATION IN RUSSIA.
Apart from the round tables, Eco-Accord prepared CD-version of the database for broad
dissemination among the targeted groups in the EECCA region.
Information and advertising materials aimed at popularizing database were prepared and
disseminated during the round table as well as other national and international events on
sustainable chemicals management.
Eco-Accord presented the Database at the workshop held in Almaty (Kazakhstan) on February,
11-13. It was a sub-regional Workshop "Towards a Toxic Free Future" (Impact of Toxic
Chemicals on the Environment and Public Health in Central Asia: Ways to Address Problems).
During the workshop Eco-Accord made a special presentation on the Database of noncombustion technologies of waste management and its usefulness for countries with economies
in transition. Eco-Accord emphasized the need of the Database for the implementation of the
National Implementation Plans to the Stockholm Convention on POPs.
The workshop participants expressed great interest in the Database. It was most important to
know that the Database is available for free and contains key information about the destruction
of POPs in wastes.
At the press conference held during the workshop media was keen to know more about the
Database of non-combustion technologies of waste management. It was great to see central TV
channels and radio stations of Kazakhstan attending the press-conference. Information about the
Database was broadcasted the same day as one of the main news.
In addition separate programs on environment will be prepared and broadcasted in the nearest
future using information provided at the press-conference. Thus it is most likely that information
about the Database will be further disseminated among broad audience in Central Asia and
beyond.
7. PARTICIPATION IN TWO ROUND TABLES ORGANISED IN BELARUS AND
UKRAINE
According to the Terms of Reference Eco-Accord participated in two round tables organised in
Kiev (Ukraine) and Minsk (Belarus) on February, 7 and 8 respectively.
The Database of non-combustion technologies of waste management was presented at both
workshops. Information about the database was very well accepted and considered to be an
important tool for decision makers, local authorities, business and NGOs. As it was stated by the
participants of the workshops local authorities still prefer incineration of waste rather than
consider new approaches and opportunities offered by a non-combustion approach of waste
management. The reason for that is lack of proper information on non-combustion methods of
waste elimination and reprocessing, powerful lobby on the part of cement kilns and producers of
waste incineration technologies, lack of understanding of environmental consequences of waste
incineration, etc.
During the workshops lots of new data was presented concerning huge problems of waste
management faced by countries with economies in transition. We got additional information
about non-combustion technologies which will be included into the database.
Eco-Accord made an introduction to the Database and further presented its vision on the use of
the Database during the implementation of the National Implementation Plan to the Stockholm
Convention on POPs.
Eco-Accord also made a presentation on SAICM Implementation and the use of the Database in
implementing activities on waste management listed in SAICM Global Plan of Actions.
8. DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT THE DATABASE VIA ECO-ACCORD
NEWS SERVICE AMONG THE EECCA NGOS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES, BUSINESS
AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY;
According to the Terms of Reference Eco-Accord prepared information about the Database and
disseminated it via Eco-Accord News Service on POPs which has more than 500 subscribers all
over the EECCA region. Subscribers to Eco-Accord News Service on POPs represent NGOs,
scientific and business organisations, governmental structures, local authorities, international
organisations.
Information about the Database was put on Eco-Accord website at: http://www.ecoaccord.org
The website contains links to the most relevant websites on POPs and other issues of chemical
safety. Now it includes the link to the website of the Database at: http://www.noburntech.info
Eco-Accord translated the information about the Database into English and put it on the English
part of its website at: http://www.ecoaccord.org/english/pop/index.htm
The link to the Database website is also available from the English part of Eco-Accord website.
Information about the Database was also translated into English and disseminated via IPEN list
serve (see Attachment 1).
Eco-Accord translated short description of the technologies listed in the Database into English
and made it available to interested stakeholders from English speaking countries (see Attachment
2).
Eco-Accord prepared articles about the Database and delivered them to the Russian magazines
on chemical technologies and agriculture.
Olga Speranskaya
Head of Eco-Accord Program on Chemical Safety
Speransk2004@mail.ru
http://www.ecoacord.org
http://www.ecoaccord.org/pop/index.htm
http://www.ecoaccord.org/english/pop/index.htm
ATTACHMENT 1
The Project Developers' Note
A
TOXIC-FREE
FUTURE:
ALTERNATIVE
MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES
NON-INCINERATION
WASTE
These issues are in the focus of the joint project "A Toxic-free Europe-2" that was launched in
October 2006 in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The project seeks to develop a database of
alternative non-incineration waste management technologies. The database incorporates
technologies for neutralisation and utilisation of production and consumption waste, technologies
for elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), as well as methods of disinfection,
elimination and treatment of medical waste.
Such a database in the Russian language is being developed for the first time. The database
developers have managed to collect information on more than 70 modern waste management
technologies. The database information would allow interested producers and consumers to get
information on all tested industrial-scale technologies; technologies approaching the stage of
industrial application; promising laboratory-scale tested technologies with good chances of
further development, as well as on underdeveloped technologies with unclear capacity, that are
likely to reach an industrial application scale in the case of further reasearch.
In addition to brief description of technological processes, the database contains information on
relevant economic considerations, waste treatment costs, health and environmental safety data,
contact information of developers and equipment suppliers.
Technologies for incorporation into the database were selected at the base of the following key
criteria:
5. Health and environmental safety of technological processes.
6. The level of destruction of hazardous components.
7. Waste treatment costs.
Skilled experts from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus provided their comments on specific
technologies and formulated their common position on the database of alternative nonincineration waste management technologies, assessed its importance for addressing problems of
adequate and safe waste management; for training of environmental specialists; for public
awareness raising and for professional support of decision-making in the sphere of environment.
Besides that, importance of the database of alternative non-incineration waste management
technologies is associated with the fact that its developers sought to select the most appropriate
waste treatment and elimination technologies for East Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
(EECCA) region from the whole array of available technologies (the technologies were selected
at the base of their economic and environmental efficiency).
Information on alternative non-incineration waste management technologies was collected from
different sources, including information materials of the Global Environmental Facility, the
World Bank, UNEP, US EPA, as well as publications of theoretical conferences and specialised
seminars. Besides that, information on technologies was provided by R&D institutes and
laboratories operating in the sphere of waste treatment, as well as by NGOs.
Therefore, the database is a unique collection of information materials on experiences of
different countries and organisation in the sphere of safe waste management. For the first time,
the database allowed a broad range of readers to get access to information in some technologies
that were developed in EECCA countries.
Now, EEСCA countries actively fulfil their commitments under international environmental
conventions. Some of these conventions are of direct relevance to waste treatment and
elimination issues, namely the Stockholm Convention on POPs and the Basel Convention on
Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Besides that,
EECCA countries actively participate in implementation of the Strategic Approach to
International Chemical Management (SAICM), approved in February 2006 by the International
Conference on Chemical Management. The Global Action Plan of specific activities for SAICM
implementation incorporates a special section on waste management matters. It is clear, that the
above international conventions (as well as some others) would require EECCA countries to
apply an adequate approach to addressing waste management problems.
The proposed database would allow representatives of different social sectors - from
governmental authorities, industrial facilities and NGOs to members of local communities - to
make sound decisions in the sphere of waste management, using information from the proposed
database as a decision-support tool.
It is worth to note that the database of alternative non-incineration waste management
technologies is posted at the specially developed web-site. Therefore, the database will be
accessible to a broad range of organisations. The database will be permanently updated by
descriptions of new technologies.
Organisations, interested in posting information on their R&D works and technologies in the
proposed database may do it by completing a relevant questionnaire. However, prior to
incorporation of information on newly submitted technologies into the database, the information
should undergo expert assessments. Proposed waste management technologies will be
incorporated into the database only in the case of a positive conclusion of experts. In such a way,
we will be able to control adequacy of submitted information on new prospective technologies.
We hope, that the proposed database of alternative non-incineration waste management
technologies will become a reliable and useful source of information, that will promote
fulfilment of EECCA countries' commitments under many international environmental
conventions, allowing to reduce industrial load on the environment.
We express our sincere gratitude to our partners from International Chemical Secretariat NGO
(Sweden) for their assistance in development of the database of alternative non-incineration
waste management technologies, and to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency for
finance support of our activities.
Eugeniy Lobanov, Belarus, "Foundation of Realisation of Ideas"
Olga Speranskaya, Russia. "Eco-Accord" Centre
Olga Tsyguleva, Ukraine, "MAMA-86" Nationa
ATTACHMENT 2
Category A: Commercialised industrial technologies
The section incorporates descriptions of technologies, that are applied in operational industrial
installations and have been issued licenses for elimination of hazardous organic waste, including
persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These technologies are characterised by high destruction efficiencies
(DE) of POPs components - from 99.999% to 99.9999% or higher. Besides that, the section contains
information on operational industrial installations for treatment/utilisation of production and consumption
waste, and describes technologies for decontamination of sites after industrial accidents (remediation of
oil pollution).
Technologies near or at the start of commercialisation
The section contains descriptions of technologies for elimination of hazardous waste, including POPs,
that are applied in operational pilot-scale installations and in industrial installations at the stage of
construction. These technologies are claimed to be suitable for POPs treatment. Such claims need
independent proof (DE over 99.9999% and no generation of toxic by-products). The section also contains
descriptions of technologies for processing of production and consumption waste, that are being prepared
for industrial-scale application.
Promising technologies
Waste processing technologies in this section have been successfully tested in laboratories and were
applied in pilot-scale projects. These technologies need additional research to demonstrate their potential
industrial capacity.
Technologies that need a significant research
Waste treatment technologies in this section are not sufficiently studied and their potential still remains
unclear. Some of them might be placed in other sections, however, lack of available information does not
allow to make a definite choice. It is also possible, that some techniques, that were identified as
inappropriate, might be successfully developed into commercially applicable ones. However, due to lack
of information, these technologies were placed into this section.
Technologies for treatment of medical waste
This section contains descriptions of alternative non-incineration technologies for treatment of medical
waste.
The problem of disinfection, elimination and processing of medical waste becomes increasingly relevant.
Numbers of health care facilities continue to increase, as well as numbers of vaccination procedures
performed. These (and other) developments result in growing amounts of medical waste and sometimes
treatment of medical waste becomes uncontrolled.
Health care facilities rely on different waste management methods, including landfill disposal, open
burning of medical waste and application of small waste incinerators.
Disposal of medical waste at landfills results in higher risks of spread of contagious diseases.
In the case of incineration of medical waste, staff members of health care facilities, patients and residents
at nearly territories are exposed to toxic by-products of incineration processes, including dioxins, furans,
mercury, lead, hydrogen chloride, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and particulates. Besides that,
incineration processes produce toxic ash and its elimination still remains very problematic. Such
incineration products as POPs and other persistent toxic compounds may migrate to long distances,
bioaccumulate and pose major health and environmental risks.
At the same time, there are alternative non-incineration technologies for treatment of medical waste
(including autoclaves, microwave irradiation and application of chemical agents). These technologies are
actively applied in developed countries.
This section contains descriptions of the most widely applied alternative non-incineration technologies for
treatment of medical waste (the information was provided by Health Care Without Harm Europe,
www.noharm.org).
Category A: Commercialised industrial technologies
The section incorporates technologies, that are applied in operational industrial installations and have
been issued licenses for elimination of hazardous organic waste, including POPs:
23.
Gas phase chemical reduction (GPCR process)
24.
Base catalysed decomposition
25.
Sodium reduction
26.
DARAMEND process
27.
Bioremediation of soils and sediments with use of dried blood
28.
Supercritical water oxidation
29.
PLASCON process
30.
Plasma centrifuge treatment
31.
Plasma converter
32.
GeoMelt process
33.
Thermal desorbtion in situ
34.
Biodynamic waste treatment technology
35.
Cleaning of oil pollution by Ecolan
36.
Cleaning of oil pollution by Ecolan oil sorbent
37.
Bioremediation of soils contaminated by polychlorinated biphelyls (PCBs) with application
of destructing microorganisms
38.
Local treatment of concentrated phenol/cresol waste in aerobic bioreactors with enhanced
oxidation capacity
39.
Microbiological destruction of organochlorine waste (inc. distillation residues) with use of
developed microflora of operational anaerobic digesters
40.
Anaerobic fermentation of sulphide-containing waste with use of adapter anaerobic
microflora of technical installations (anaerobic digesters)
41.
Cryogenic crushing of tires and rubber items
42.
Mechanic treatment of tires
43.
Treatment of PET bottles
44.
A line for PET bottles processing
Category B. Technologies near or at the start of commercialisation
The section contains descriptions of technologies for elimination of hazardous waste, including POPs,
that are applied in operational pilot-scale installations and in industrial installations at the stage of
construction. These technologies are claimed to be suitable for POPs treatment. Such claims need
independent proof (DE over 99.9999% and no generation of toxic by-products).
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Mechanic-chemical dehalogenation (MCD process)
Solvated electron process (SOLV process)
Xenorem process
CerOx process
Ultrasonic destruction
Molten salt oxidation
Oxidation in soda recovery reactors
High temperature/pressure incineration
Anaerobic fermentation of pesticides by adapted anaerobic microflora of technical
installations (anaerobic digesters)
A modified process of biological treatment of concentrated agro-industrial waste by a special
association of microorganisms (a variation)
Pyrolysis of crushed used tires in absence of air
Category C. Promising technologies
Waste processing technologies in this section have been successfully tested in laboratories and were
applied in pilot-scale projects. These technologies need additional research to demonstrate their potential
industrial capacity.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Catalytic hydrogenation
TDR-3R process
Mediated electrochemical oxidation (AEA Silver II process)
Soil bioremediation in situ
Phytoremediation
Phytotechnologies
Comprehensive soil remediation (destruction of some classes of pesticides)
Regeneration of chemical agents and use of lignosulphonates: production of iron preparations
at the base of technical grade lignosulphonates.
Category D. Other technologies
Waste treatment technologies of this category are not sufficiently studied and their potential still remains
unclear. Some of them might be placed in other sections, however, lack of available information does not
allow to make a definite choice. It is also possible, that some techniques, that were identified as
inappropriate, might be successfully developed into commercially applicable ones. However, due to lack
of information, these technologies were placed into Category D.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
MnOx/TiO2-Al2O3 catalyst degradation
TiO2 - based V2O5/WO3 catalyst decomposition
Fe(III) photocatalyst decomposition
Ozonation in electric discharge
Molten metals (ММТ process)
Molten slag process
Photochemically enhanced biodecomposition
Biodegradation/Fenton's reaction
White rot fungi biodegradation
Enzyme degradation
Electrolysis in microemulsions
Photocatalytic degradation with application of TiO2
Electron beam treatment
Ozonation