HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 13/4

Adopted 5 February 1992, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RELATED TO THE USE OF SCRAP MATERIALS IN THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING Paragraph 1 of Article 6 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1974 (Helsinki Convention), in which the Contracting Parties undertake to take all appropriate measures to control and minimize land-based pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area,

RECALLING ALSO that according to Paragraph 2 of Article 2 of the Helsinki Convention land-based pollution includes also airborne pollution,

RECALLING ALSO that according to Paragraph 8 of Article 6 of the Helsinki Convention, the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to use best practical means in order to minimize airborne pollution of the Baltic Sea by noxious substances,

RECALLING ALSO the Ministerial Declaration of the ninth meeting of the Helsinki Commission,

RECALLING ALSO the Baltic Sea Declaration of 1990,

RECOGNIZING the importance of reducing the emissions into atmosphere from the use of scrap materials in the iron and steel industry

i)by minimizing the hazards to human health and to the environment from toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative substances by the application of best available technology;

ii)by developing processes and techniques for the collection and treatment of atmospheric emissions,

RECOMMENDS to the Governments of the Contracting Parties that

1)measures should be taken to avoid cadmium and mercury in all products that can end up as scrap. By 1994 the Contracting Parties should report on plans and measures they have taken and present a timetable for further reductions;

2)by 1994, in order to minimize the amount of chlorinated compounds in used scrap, the Contracting Parties should present proposals to reduce the use of chlorinated oils and emulsions in metal-working plants and the melting of chlorinated plastic together with steel products. A timetable for such reductions should also be presented by the same date;

3)the situation regarding mercury and dioxin emissions should be presented by the Contracting Parties by 1995;

4)further research and development should be carried out to achieve suitable technologies for reducing emissions of mercury and dioxin. The current state of development of such technologies should be presented by 1996. A timetable for the reduction of emissions of mercury and dioxin using such technologies should also be presented by the same date.