Countries must demand waste limit for persistent organic pollutants

Organic waste. [iStockphoto]

As delegates and country representatives converge in Geneva from June 6 for the two-week Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) convention, the key question should be on limiting the use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste levels to protect human health and the environment.

The BRS convention seeks to promote the sound management of chemicals throughout their lifecycle. The Stockholm Treaty aims to protect human health and environment from POPs, industrial chemicals and their toxic byproducts; Basel Convention protects human health from toxic waste; and Rotterdam Convention is on international trade of hazardous chemicals. The conference happens one week after the Dakar Open Negotiations on the Global Treaty on plastics that put emphasis on phasing out toxic chemicals and additives used in plastics.