Global Mercury Partnership organizes a side event on mercury waste

07 May 2025

At the 2025 BRS COPs, a side event focused on mercury in products, including mercury waste, a typical area of synergies between the Minamata and Basel Conventions.

The side event, titled "Mercury in products: Integrated approaches and innovative tools for a sustainable waste management", was organized by the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, bringing together representatives from the Secretariats of the BRS Conventions and the Minamata Convention, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNEP. 

The discussion highlighted the key role of cooperation between intergovernmental organizations to reduce mercury pollution from mercury-added products and mercury waste. Representatives from the Zambian government, Ban Toxics (a non-governmental organization) and Batrec (a waste management company) presented their on-the-ground activities to address mercury waste.

Eisaku Toda, Senior Programme Management Officer of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention, highlighted the interlinkages between the Conventions, stating: "Minamata COP-5 in 2023 informed the Basel COP about the establishment of mercury waste thresholds. I am glad to see that the Basel COP now responded by deciding to update the technical guidelines on mercury waste".

More details about the BRS COPs 2025 side event can be found here.

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