THE SECOND STAGE OF REMOVING HAZARDOUS PCB WASTE FROM BELARUS FOR FURTHER ELIMINATION OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY IS UNDERWAY

The Project is actively pursuing the removal of persistent organic pollutants –condensers containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – out of the country for environmentally sound disposal.

PCBs removal activities under the Project were organised in two phases. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 500 tonnes of PCB waste have been exported to specialised plants in France and Switzerland within the framework of the first stage. The enterprises of the Ministry of Energy system, industrial and transport companies from all regions of Belarus, which were the largest PCB owners or became consolidation centres for the enterprises of the Ministry, took part in this stage.

About 280 enterprises participate in the second stage, most of which have low volumes of PCB-containing waste. Therefore, an important point here is the process of centralised collection or consolidation of waste in one place for its further repackaging and loading for transportation outside the country. The "Complex for Processing and Disposal of Toxic Industrial Waste of the Gomel region" in Chechersk district of Gomel region has become such a consolidation centre. It is the only collection point for such waste in Belarus. The Centre acts as a single exporter and actively collects and prepares PCB-containing waste for shipment to Slovakia, where it will be disposed safely for the environment at a specialised Rovami facility. Every week, 45-70 tonnes of waste leaves the centre for elimination.

Within the framework of the second phase, 185 tonnes of PCB-containing waste have already been removed, of which more than 90 tonnes have been eliminated today. In total, about 600 tonnes are planned to be removed from all regions of Belarus under the second phase by mid-September 2023.

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