HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 14/5

Adopted 3 February 1993 having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

This Recommendation supersedes HELCOM Recommendation 6/5 

REDUCTION OF DIFFUSE EMISSIONS FROM USED BATTERIES CONTAINING HEAVY METALS (MERCURY, CADMIUM AND LEAD)

THE COMMISSION,

RECALLING 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 strictly limit pollution of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area by noxious substances,

RECALLING ALSO that Annex II of the Helsinki Convention defines mercury, cadmium and lead as noxious substances for the purpose of Article 6 of the Convention,

RECOGNIZING the pollution caused by the introduction of mercury, cadmium and lead from used batteries to the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area,

DESIRING to reduce the diffuse emissions,

RECOMMENDS to the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Commission that:

a)batteries containing heavy metals should be substituted by less hazardous batteries to the extent possible aiming at, in the long run, a complete ceasing of the use of such metals,

b)recovery or safe disposal of such spent batteries should be applied in order to avoid contamination of the environment,

c)legislation concerning batteries containing heavy metals should be implemented regulating labelling and collection of used batteries and,

d)labelling requirements should comply with existing international standards and refer to batteries containing:

-more than 0.025% mercury by weight

-more than 0.025% cadmium by weight

-more than 0.4% lead by weight,

RECOMMENDS ALSO that actions referred to in b) and c) should be implemented as soon as possible but not later than by the end of 1994,

RECOMMENDS FURTHER that the actions taken by the Contracting Parties should be reported to the Commission in 1997 and thereafter every three years.

FORMAT FOR REPORTING ACTIONS REQUESTED IN HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 14/5 CONCERNING REDUCTION OF DIFFUSE EMISSIONS FROM USED BATTERIES CONTAINING HEAVY METALS (MERCURY, CADMIUM AND LEAD)

Lead Country: Sweden

Country                          Year                       

1)Amount of batteries sold per year in tonnes

a)Batteries containing mercury

  Mercury oxide
  Alkaline ^*)

  Carbon-zinc ^*)

  Silver oxide

  Zinc/air

^*) The amount should, if possible, be specified for the following intervals: > 0.025% Hg, 0.025    0% Hg and 0% Hg

b) Nickel-cadmium, sealed batteries

    Nickel-cadmium, open batteries

c) Lead, sealed batteries

2)Have batteries containing heavy metals been substituted by less hazardous batteries ? In case of yes, which ones ? Describe briefly application areas.

3)Has a collection system of used batteries been implemented ? In case of yes, describe briefly.

4)How have collected batteries been taken care of for final treatment ? Recovery, disposal etc.. Describe briefly.

5)Have labelling requirements for batteries referred to in the Recommendation been implemented ?