EUROPEAN UNION TAKES GLOBAL LEAD IN ENDING USE OF HEAVY METAL - MERCURY
EU, national authorities and stakeholders such as industry and environmental organisations will meet in Brussels, March 31, 2004 to discuss development of the EU Mercury Strategy.
The EU should take a global lead in ending use of the heavy metal mercury and cutting emissions, Sweden's environment ministry has urged in a letter to the European Commission's environment directorate. The move comes amidst intense negotiations as the Commission prepares to release an EU mercury strategy in September.
Europe should "lead by example" while also pushing for a global commitment to mercury emissions reduction, the director of the Swedish environment ministry's unit for eco-management strategies, Nina Cromnier, told Environment Daily.
An overriding goal of the future EU mercury strategy must be to "break the mercury cycle", the letter states. This can only be achieved through a "holistic" approach that addresses every phase of the heavy metal's life cycle.
Actions it proposes include an EU metallic mercury export ban and further restrictions on the marketing and use of mercury in products, leading to a total phase-out. In dealing with waste containing mercury, no recycling should be allowed, while separate sorting and treatment must be carried out, leading to controlled final disposal.
Sweden calls for further measures to reduce emissions from coal-burning power stations and urges the Commission to consider new regulations on emissions from crematoria. Controls on crematoria emissions are already in place in several EU countries and are being considered elsewhere.
Among industrial facilities covered by the EU's new emissions register Eper, large combustion plants and the metals industry emerge as the two largest sources, contributing 16 tonnes out of 30.4 tonnes per year of mercury releases recorded in Eper.
Emissions from Nordic countries are minimal, but transboundary dispersion makes mercury pollution a significant problem in the area. Sweden, where heavy metal pollution of forest and freshwater ecosystems is a high priority, has traditionally had a very restrictive policy towards mercury, and is gearing up to introduce a total ban in the coming months.
Environment ministers from all the Nordic countries recently urged global action to reduce emissions.
Republished with permission from Environment Daily