Coalicion Ciudadana Anti-Incineracion (Argentina), May 22, 2007

ARGENTINA RECOMMENDS ALTERNATIVES TO INCINERATION

[Rachel's introduction: Argentina adopts a precautionary approach to solid waste incineration, favoring alternative technologies.]

Buenos Aires -- The National Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development submitted its National Implementation Plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (the "POPs Treaty"), where it recommends promoting alternative to incineration for managing wastes in order to reduce emissions of dioxins and furans.

The Stockholm Convention on POPs*, signed in 2001 under the framework of the UN, aims to reduce, with the final goal to eliminate, the emissions of the most toxic chemicals known. The initial list of substances to eliminate includes 9 pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, dioxins and furans. Five other chemicals where added to the list in the last Conference of the Parties. Argentina ratified the Convention in January 2005, and presented its National Implementation Plan (NIP) as a following procedure.**

Waste incineration is classified in the Convention as one of the main sources of dioxin and furan emissions to the environment. Argentina still has dozens of incinerators of industrial, medical and urban waste under operation. Despite the fact that Argentina ratified the Stockholm Convention, there are still many incinerator proposals in the country, added to a promotion of waste-to-energy.

In the NIP, Argentina describes the steps it plans to take to meet its obligations under the Convention, to reduce emissions of these toxic substances. To reduce dioxin and furan emissions from municipal solid waste management, the submitted Plan recommends "promoting a ban over incineration as a treatment and disposal technology for this type of waste, including the use of waste as input to produce energy."

In relation to the emissions coming from medical waste management and treatment, it is stated that "waste management manuals should be developed to reduce the volume of wastes produced at animal and human healthcare centers, both public and private, oriented to use treatment and disposal technologies that don't produce POPs."

The Anti-Incineration Citizens Coalition [Coalicion Ciudadana Anti- Incineracion] celebrates the inclusion of these measures, which aim at preventing dioxin and furan emissions in the first place, through the implementation of methods and technologies that don't produce these pollutants.

"The fact that the Stockholm Convention National Implementation Plan recommends banning incineration is an important step to prevent pollution, but equally important is that this gets reflected in concrete measures. Given that there are waste management systems that don't produce POPs, no new incinerator should be allowed in the country, and a plan to close the existent incinerators should be implemented", said Luis Tuninetti, Director of Eco-Sitio and member of the Coalition.

The Anti-Incineration Citizens Coalition [Coalicion Ciudadana Anti- Incineracion] is a national network of citizens and NGOs that live next to waste incinerators or face incinerator proposals in their communities. Since its foundation in 1995, the Coalition works to eradicate waste incineration, promoting at the same time sustainable waste management methods. During these years, the Coalition was a key factor in getting 17 municipalities to ban or restrict waste incineration in the country.***

Press contact:

Silvana Bujan: Tel: (54 223) 479-2474 Mobile: (54 223) 155 019937

prensa@noalaincineracion.org

Notes:

* The Stockholm Convention is available here: http://www.pops.int/documents/convtext/convtext_sp.pdf

** The National Implementation Plan can be downloaded here: http://www.pops.int/documents/implementation/nips/submissio ns/argentina_NIP.pdf

*** The municipalities that have banned or restricted waste incineration in Argentina are: Buenos Aires city, Rosario, Granadero Baigorria, Coronel Bogado, Totoras, Casilda, Capitan Bermúdez, Villa Constitucion (province of Santa Fe), Villa Allende, Marcos Juarez and Villa Nueva (Cordoba), Esquel (Chubut), Palpala (Jujuy), San Juan, General Pueyrredon and Tres Arroyos (province of Buenos Aires) and Crespo (Entre Rios). The texts of the ordinances and laws are available here: http://noalaincineracion.org/argentina/prohibiciones

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