Mercury in products: Integrated approaches and innovative tools for a sustainable waste management - BRS COPs 2025 side event

Date: Wednesday 7 May

Time: 6:15 pm – 7:45 pm CEST

Where: Online and in person, in the Exhibition area

The Global Mercury Partnership, its areas of work on mercury in products and waste management proposed a 90 minutes’ side event on the management of waste from mercury containing products held during the 2025 BRS COPs.

Building on growing momentum to eliminate mercury in products, this event will bring together the Global Mercury Partnership, sister agencies, and project partners to spotlight innovative approaches and tools for managing waste from mercury-containing products. Drawing from two GEF-funded initiatives - targeting the phase down of dental amalgam in Senegal, Thailand, and Uruguay, and the phase-out of mercury measuring devices in healthcare in Albania, Burkina Faso, India, Montenegro, and Uganda—the session will highlight tangible results and opportunities for replication. 

Aligned with the COP theme “Make Visible the Invisible: sound management of chemicals and wastes,” the discussion linked national action to the requirements of the Basel Convention, shed light on successful strategies for institutional engagement, and examined the administrative procedures necessary for compliance. Featuring insights from health, environment, and waste management sectors, the session emphasized South-South-North cooperation and presented concrete lessons learned to advance coordinated, sustainable mercury waste solutions.  

The event was moderated by the Global Mercury Partnership. Remote participation was available. Presentations made at the meeting are now available.

AGENDA

6:15pm-6:25pm  Opening remarks and scene setting - Malgorzata Stylo, UNEP Global Mercury Partnership

6:25pm-7:00pm Panel discussion 1: Joining forces in tackling the sound management of waste for Hg containing products at global level

• Key collaborations with relevant bodies and recommendations in treating Hg wastes - Eisaku Toda, Secretariat of the Minamata Convention
• Guiding parties in implementing requirements of the Basel convention: insights and recommendations - Agustin Harte, Secretariat of the Basel Convention
• Sound management of mercury waste: inclusive approach in developing recent and upcoming tools - Kishor Parajuli, Waste Management Area
• Managing mercury waste in health care facilities: needs and effective, practical actions from countries and partners - Margaret Montgomery, World Health Organization

Questions & Answers

7:00pm-7:35pm Panel discussion 2: Solutions and lessons learned from the countries and experts

• Treating Hg wastes: shedding light on key steps, from collection to final disposal - David Hunter, BATREC
• Key successes, challenges and next steps in managing mercury containing medical devices - Christopher Kanema, Ministry of Environment, Zambia
• Supporting Collaboration for a durable management of mercury containing wastes: key lessons learned and needs - Jashaf Shamir Lorenzo, BanToxics

Questions & Answers

7:35pm-7:45pm Closing remarks - Grace Halla, GEF Chemicals and Waste Unit, UNEP