Chemicals and Waste in Palestine brochure

Hg

Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in PALESTINE

This public awareness brochure is produced by the Environmental Quality Authority of Palestine in collaboration with Zoi Environment Network under the UNEP Special Programme project. It is based on the latest official information with consideration of special circumstances of Palestine.

This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made.

The Environmental Quality Authority of Palestine and Zoi Environment Network would appreciate receiving a copy of any material that uses this publication as a source.

Disclaimer The views expressed do not necessarily represent the decision or the stated policy of the UN Environment Programme and its Special Programme, nor does citing of trade names or commercial processes constitute endorsement.

Contributors: Alex Mackey, Alexandra Povarich, Dina Adylova, Viktor Novikov, Otto Simonett, Abdel Fattah R. Hasan

© Environment Quality Authority of Palestine, 2023 © Zoi Environment Network, 2023

conventions BRS-M InternationalInternational Conventions on Waste and Chemicals Hazardous Waste Basel Convention

B Treatment and disposal

Transboundary movements

on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

basel.int Palestine joined in 2015

Hazardous waste inventory

International conventions BRS-M

Hazardous Chemicals Waste Hazardous and Pesticides in International Trade

In addition to its main objective of controlling the movement of hazardous wastes between countries, the Basel Convention aims to minimise the generation of hazardous wastes, to treat and dispose of wastes in an environmentally sound manner, and to improve reporting and public access to information and awareness on hazardous wastes. 191 countries are Parties to the Labelling and Reporting and Treatment andConvention.

Transboundary

safety data sheet disposal

information sharing movements

Rotterdam Convention

The Rotterdam Convention promotes cooperation on the Prior Informed Consent Basel Convention among Parties in the international trade ofHazardous certain Procedure for on the Control Certain of Transboundary Chemicals and Pesticides hazardous industrial chemicals pesticides to Movements and of Hazardous Wastes inand International Trade their Disposal protect human health and the environment from harm by facilitating the exchange of information, promoting safety data sheets and labelling.

B R

basel.int pic.int Palestine joinedin in Palestine joined 2017 2015

Prior informed Hazardous waste consent (PIC) inventory

Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade Persistent Organic Pollutants

RS

STOP Labelling and safety data sheet Safe management of POPs stockpiles and waste

Reporting and information sharing Restrict, prohibit or eliminate POPs

Persistent Organic Pollutants

Rotterdam Convention

Prior informed consent organic (PIC) Persistent pollutants (POPs) inventory

on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Stockholm Convention Chemicals and Pesticides on Persistent Organic Pollutants in International Trade

pic.int pops.int Palestine joined in 2017joined in Palestine 2017

1

Treatment safety dataand sheet disposal

Transboundary information sharing movements

Hazardous consent waste (PIC) inventory

Palestine joined in 2017 2015

Persistent Organic Pollutants Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade

Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Stockholm Convention Procedure for Certain Hazardous on Chemicals Persistent Organic Pollutants and Pesticides

STOP

Labelling and Safe management safety data sheet of POPs stockpiles and waste

in International Trade

S R

Reporting and Restrict, prohibit information or eliminatesharing POPs

pic.int pops.int Palestine Palestine joined joined in in 2017 2017

Prior informed Persistent organic consent (PIC) pollutants (POPs) inventory

Persistent Mercury Organic Pollutants The Stockholm Convention lists chemicals substances — persistent organic pollutants — that remain intact in the environment for long time, STOP accumulate in the living organisms including huSTOP Hg Hgand are toxic to both humans and wildlife. mans, Hg requires Parties to take steps to The Convention regulate, reduce, safely dispose of or eliminate Safe management Restrict, prohibit Safe management Phase-out or these chemicals, report on pollution and develop ofofPOPs stockpiles or eliminate POPsof mercury waste, phase-down action plans. and waste control of releases mercury use

The Minamata Convention aim to reduce health and Minamata Convention Stockholm on Mercury environmental impacts on from mercury pollution by Persistent Organic Pollutants Hg minimizing and eliminating the production, use and release of mercury, control mercury air emissions from power plants, waste incineration, cement production, take measures to reduce mercury mercuryconvention.org use in certain products such aspops.int batteries, lights, Persistent organic Palestine joined in Mercuryand dental amalgam. cosmetics, pollutants (POPs) 2017 assessments 2019 inventory and action plans

S M

Mercury Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine

Minamata Convention on Mercury

Hg Informational materials produced by the Environment Quality Authority and Zoi Environment Network. Funded by the UNEP Special Programme STOP

M

Hg

Hg Hg

Safe management of mercury waste, control of releases

Phase-out or phase-down of mercury use

Mercury assessments and action plans

2 Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine

mercuryconvention.org Palestine joined in 2019

Tripleplanetery planetary crisis Triple crisis Climate disruption ozone depletion

Nature and land degradation

Pollution, waste and chemicals

Biodiversity loss

Environment Quality Authority (EQA)

According to the United Nations, the Earth today Palestine already taken steps to address the engagement inis waste andhaschemicals facing a triple planetary crisis: climate disruption; global and national challenges of the triple crisis. loss of nature and biodiversity; and pollution and Palestine’s climate report and nationally deterwaste. This triple crisis threatens the well-being mined contribution summarise the national situaand survival of millions of people around the world, tion and aspirations. Careful attention to wildlife including the people of Palestine. and ecosystems offers hope for conservation for future generations. Recycling initiatives, including Palestine is highly vulnerable to climate change at for hazardous medical waste, modernisation of the same time being one of the lowestRepresentation emitters. the national waste management system and the of Palestine Hazardous waste and Public awareness, Palestine’s natureand andadvocacy territory remains fragmentexpansion of wastewater treatment in the multilateral environmental chemicals policy,are helping to education agreements, point to environmental the regulations and ed andon is waste, oftenchemicals overexploited.

Household and focalimprove quality andand reduce pollution.

BRS and Minamata Сonventions compliance environmental issues hazardous waste is not sorted and continues to accumulate in dumps and landfills.

The Environmental Quality Authority of Palestine is a key player in the state’s biodiversity Inter-agency cooperation and involvement on waste and climate, chemicals and pollution prevention efforts. But many other Central Bureau of Statistics Ministry of National Economyand ministries Ministry of Local Government agencies also play a role. Inter-agency cooperation and public involvement in the environmentally sound management of waste and chemicals is essential for success.

i

Data and statistics on economy, population and the environment

Planning, economic activity regulations and licensing

Municipal waste management and inventory

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry of Interior: Civil Defence and Customs Police

3

Biodiversity loss

Environment QualityAuthority Authority (EQA) Environment Quality (EQA) engagement wasteand and chemicals chemicals engagement ininwaste

Representation of Palestine in the multilateral environmental agreements, focal point to the BRS and Minamata Сonventions

Public awareness, education and advocacy on waste, chemicals and environmental issues

Hazardous waste and chemicals policy, regulations and compliance

Inter-agency cooperation and involvement on waste and chemicals Central Bureau of Statistics

Ministry of National Economy

Ministry of Local Government

Data and statistics on economy, population and the environment

Planning, economic activity regulations and licensing

Municipal waste management and inventory

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry of Interior: Civil Defence and Customs Police

i

CUSTOMS

Regulations on health protection health surveys

Regulations on agricultural chemicals and safety

Inspecting shipments of hazardous waste and chemicals, emergency preparedness and response

4 Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine

Sources to hazardous hazardouswaste wasteand andchemicals chemicals Sources of of and and exposure exposure to In-house and indoor

Mercury-containing lamps, thermometers, batteries, devices

Solvents, paints, poisons

Infection masks, sharp objects, obsolete medications

Old and broken screens, phones, air conditioners

Car waste: used oils, tires, accumulators

Outdoor and professional activities Application of agro-chemicals

Open air waste burning

House demolition, reconstruction

Industry emissions

Mismanagement of industrial waste

Hazardous waste facts for Palestine Total solid waste generated

5 Palestine’s reporting

Public awareness material produced by Zoi Environment Network in cooperation with EQA under the UNEP Special Programme project, 2023

Hazardous waste facts for Hazardous waste facts forPalestine Palestine Total solid waste generated by businesses, tonnes

10%

160 000

Palestine’s reporting to the Basel Convention Lead batteries

42 000

4 500

Cr2S3

1%

2% 2019

47-65%

30%

West Bank

Share of hazardous waste that is treated

65 585

Gaza

Share of businesses separating chemical and infectious waste

2300

Medical waste

Paint powder

24

Pharmaceuticals

hazardous

2023

2260

Chromium Sulfide

Hazardous waste generation, tonnes

3780

Sulphuric acid H2SO4

240

Hazardous waste exports, tonnes

Information based on national statistics and Palestine reporting to the Basel Convention, 2021-2023

Often invisible or neglected, there are actually many sources of hazardous waste and chemicals both indoor — inside households, hospitals or car repair shops, and outside — small and medium enterprises, agricultural applications of chemicals and construction-industrial uses and wastes. Illustrations of this brochure highlight some of the common and known sources. The official data as recently reported by Palestine to the Basel Convention indicates over 65 000 tonnes of hazardous waste per year, but this number can fluctuate greatly from year to year.

6

Statistical data shows good progress — increase from 2% to 10% in hazardous waste treatment in 4 years. The marked progress is observed in Gaza, where about half of business entities separate their chemical and infectious waste. It is estimated that from the average total of 4500 tonnes of Palestine’s medical waste, about 1/3 can be considered hazardous and require special treatment, including incineration.

Youth and women engagement

Clean up of streets and streams from plastic packaging waste

Collection of paper for recycling, organic waste for composting

Research on biodegradable materials, recyclable packaging with minimal waste Waste management and recycling education

Women Palestine play a central role in waste Datain collection and reporting and chemicals on research, surveys, inspections, SDGs and BRS public activism and education. The population conventions of Palestine is growing rapidly and is very young and dynamic. Young people can contribute to the sound management of waste and chemicals by organising clean-up campaigns and ecology days, habits by creatively reusingWaste wasterecycling in schools and at home, at home and in the community and by participating in recycling campaigns.

Inspection of hazardous chemicals and waste handling in car workshops and industries

Responsible consumption to minimise waste and reduce health risks

7

packaging with minimal waste Waste management and recycling education

Data collection and reporting on SDGs and BRS conventions

Inspection of hazardous chemicals and waste handling in car workshops and industries

Waste recycling habits at home and in the community Responsible consumption to minimise waste and reduce health risks

If families, schools, colleges and universities pracAttention to potentially hazardous waste in car Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine tice and promote waste separation and contribute workshops and small businesses, and timely and Informational materials produced by the Environmentwould Quality Authority Zoi Environment Network.of Funded by the UNEP Special Programme to recycling, Palestine’s environment be andproper handling used chemical spills and leaks, much cleaner and greener. Reducing the use and can help prevent local contamination, reduce cleanconsumption of plastic packaging, composting of up costs and avoid fines. Consuming local produce food waste and rational consumption of food have grown in an environmentally friendly way, with little great benefits for the environment. or no pesticides and fertilisers, also contributes to better health and the environment.

8

Palestine’s special circumstances, constraints and ways forward

Palestine’s special circumstances, constraints and ways forward

i Limited access to the international sources of funding for hazardous waste and chemicals inventory and solutions

Country’s fragmentation into two parts with different governance nuances

Israel controls Palestine’s borders and permissions for export and installations

? ??

Lack of statistics and information on hazardous waste and chemicals

Limited capacity of staff and weak legislation enforcement

i

Limited inter-institutional coordination and data exchange

Palestine’s special circumstances, which have Other constraints include limited and irregular instiStrengthen cooperation Unlock cooperation with international a direct impact on its ability to manage waste and tutional cooperation on cross-borderon waste and chemicals, lack Enable data sharing organisations and pollution monitoring chemicals, other include border control and the occuof up-to-date and comprehensive statistical inforand coordination countries and control with Israel to tackle pation of part of its territory by Israel.

Thiswaste creates mation on waste generation, collection, recycling smuggling difficulties in the control of imports and exports, and landfilling. Palestine faces restrictions or delays technology transfer, and the siting and construcin accessing waste and chemicals-related fundtion of hazardous waste storage and treatment ing mechanisms established by the Conventions, facilities. Settlements contribute to emissions and including the Global Environment Facility Implement the (GEF).

Oslo Agreements waste in the Palestinian territories, while clandestine Invest in hazardous and transfer control transfers of infrastructure, electronic and car waste for recycling waste over the area C, sanitary landfills and burden of pollution control including waste in Palestine add to the waste recycling Promote safe handling management and waste mismanagement. of e-waste and car waste

9

Lack of statistics and information on hazardous waste and chemicals Strengthen cooperation with international organisations and other countries

Limited capacity of staff and weak legislation enforcement

Enable data sharing and coordination to tackle waste smuggling

Invest in hazardous waste infrastructure, sanitary landfills and waste recycling

Limited inter-institutional coordination and data exchange

Unlock cooperation on cross-border pollution monitoring and control with Israel

Promote safe handling of e-waste and car waste

Hazardous waste and chemicals inventory, surveys and database

Improve coordination, training and law enforcement

Implement the Oslo Agreements and transfer control over the area C, including waste management

Improve public awareness and engagement in waste actions

Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine

Staff shortages and limited training of environmenTo overcome some of these constraints, it is essental Informational inspectorsmaterials in theproduced detection and investigation of tialZoitoEnvironment work continuously inter-agency by the Environment Quality Authority and Network. Fundedto by improve the UNEP Special Programme hazardous waste and chemicals further constrain coordination and public awareness, expand data enforcement. Public awareness about risks, sources collection and exchange, conduct hazardous waste of and exposure to hazardous waste and chemiand pollution mapping and inventories, and develop cals, especially POPs and mercury, is also limited. local and national clean-up action plans.

10

Basic solutions to to pollution, andchemicals chemicals Basic solutions pollution,hazardous hazardous waste waste and UNEP Special Programme project supporting Palestine

Public awareness materials and information on waste and chemicals

Training and capacity building

Inter-institutional collaboration

i Improving reporting within the country and for the BRS conventions

International cooperation and experience exchange

Initial steps on mercury under the Minamata Convention

solid waste management strategy Palestine is an active party National to all four conventions The inter-agency meetings facilitated by the project on hazardous waste and chemicals, but its own are always rich in discussion and help to improve resources and accessibility to international fundcoordination, exchange knowledge, and clarify STOP ing and expertise are limited. The UNEP Special institutional mandates. The project is supporting Programme is helping to bridge this gap by asPalestine’s initial steps towards the Minamata Consisting Palestine in taking the basic steps towards vention on Mercury, in the hope that more technical environmentally sound management of waste and and substantive support can be provided through chemicals.

The UNEP-EQA project is working to the Specific Programme, GEF and though tarEffective legislation, Environmentally sound Suitable management of the Public awareness, strong institutions, management of solid waste, medical, hazardous and information and develop and deliver training materials and sessions, geted governmental efforts. incentives for recycling infrastructure for recycling special waste reporting on waste produce public awareness materials, review gaps in legislation, data and institutional frameworks, and provide recommendations.

Pollution risk reduction, transition to green economy

11

Improving reporting within the country and for the BRS conventions

International cooperation and experience exchange

Initial steps on mercury under the Minamata Convention

National solid waste management strategy STOP

Effective legislation, strong institutions, incentives for recycling

Environmentally sound Suitable management of management of solid waste, medical, hazardous and infrastructure for recycling special waste

Public awareness, information and reporting on waste

Pollution risk reduction, transition to green economy

Biological methods of crops protection, organic agriculture

Solid municipal waste sorting, recycling and minimisation

Safe recycling of e-waste, re-use of critical materials

Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine

12

Incentives for green industries and zero waste products

National Solid Waste Management Strategy and Further efforts on waste separation and recycling targeted waste materials management improvement projects are essentialNetwork. for the transition a greener econInformational produced by the Environment Quality Authority and Zoi Environment Funded by the UNEPto Special Programme supported by international donors have helped Palomy and for reducing pollution and waste. The estine to improve landfills, waste transfer stations, expansion of biological and organic methods in waste awareness and reporting. The treatment of agriculture can help reduce the use of pesticides, hazardous waste from hospitals is now much better while the recovery of critical materials from waste than 5–10 years ago. can contribute to new industries and jobs, in addition to saving resources. Incentives for green industries and zero waste businesses can help make Palestine greener and a better place to live.

Selected numbers and interesting facts facts on waste Selected numbers and interesting on waste Population growth in Palestine million persons

Solid waste composition

5.5

5

West Bank

4 3

2% 2%

2 1

Gaza

47%

0

1980 1990

2000 2010 2023

Solid waste generation per person per day West Bank

1 kg

tonnes per year

Gaza

0.9 kg

1.1 million West Bank

14% 16%

19%

Glass Metal Paper Plastic

Food and organic Other waste

0.6 million Gaza

Aboutwaste half of all end municipal waste is made of food Where does the solid up?

The population of Palestine has more than doubled in the past 30 years, and continues to grow generating more waste. Currently 1.7 million tonnes 3500 five years ago of solid municipal waste is going to landfills. The Waste generated waste generation rate 4650 in the tonnes/day West Bank (1kg per day per person) is slightly higher than in Gaza, where greater density and poverty of population in combination of the limited area available for landfilling contributes to smaller waste generation Percentage of households and greater re-use and waste recycling. covered by solid collection services

Goal 100%

95% Goal 20%

leftovers. Fractions of plastic and paper waste make 16% and 14% accordingly. A lot more waste could E-waste coming from Israel be recycled if separate waste collection is widely 200 tonnes/day practiced and recycling10% capacities and incentives are operational. Most settlements Refrigerators are served by 2.5% waste collection services (95%), but only 1–3% ofTVs 50% motors waste is being recycling. NationalCar waste strategy aims at 30% recycling.

Most of the waste is2.5% trans10% Waste from Israeli Cables Cell Phones settlements ferred to the landfills, some of them receive 1000 25% tonnes of waste per day.

Air conditioners

Waste transfer

Goal 100%

90%

13

Bank flowsGaza Waste and landfills1.1inmillion Palestine 0.6 million 1 kg 0.9 kg West Bank

Zahrat Al Finjan

Gaza

Jenin Where doesthe thesolid solid waste waste end Where does endup? up?

Tubas Tulkarem

3500 five years ago Waste generated 4650 tonnes/day

E-waste coming from Israel

Qalqiliya

10% Refrigerators 55 tonnes/day 2.5% TVs 50% Car motors Jericho

Salfit

Planned

Waste from Israeli settlements

Percentage of households covered by solid waste collection services

200 tonnes/day

Nablus

Rammun

Ramalha &10% Cables AI-Biren

25%

2.5% Cell Phones

Jericho

Air conditioners

Goal 100%

90 tonnes/day

95% ISRAELWaste

Beit Anan

transfer

Goal 100%

Goal 20%

Jerusalem

1 000 tonnes/day 90%

AI Minya

Residential waste North Gaza collection Gaza

0%

Landfills Bathlehem

700 tonnes/day

Hebron

Juhor Al-Dik

Deir Al-Balah

Goal 30%

Khan Younis

Household waste Rafah separation

Random dumps, waste burning JORDAN

Recycling sector involves 240 SMEs employing 3500 persons

1-3%

Al Fukhary

170 tonnes/day Compost

Undocumented waste processing

Recycling and reuse

Current waste flows: Future waste flows: Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine waste dumping and burning towards circular economy Informational Large Network. Funded by the UNEP Special Programme Smaller materials produced by the Environment Quality Authority and Zoi Environment Recycling methane methane Recycling emissions emissions Landfill Landfill

Compost Waste prevention

Separation

Compost

14 Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine

Open burning

Mapping waste flows 1 200 tonnes/day Waste flows and landfills in Palestine Zahrat Al Finjan

Jenin Tubas

Tulkarem

Qalqiliya

Nablus

Salfit

55 tonnes/day Jericho

Planned

Rammun

Ramalha & AI-Biren Jericho

90 tonnes/day Beit Anan

ISRAEL

Jerusalem

1 000 tonnes/day AI Minya North Gaza Gaza Deir Al-Balah

Bathlehem

700 tonnes/day Juhor Al-Dik

JORDAN

Hebron

Khan Younis Rafah

Al Fukhary

170 tonnes/day

15 Future waste flows:

Current waste flows:

Links wasteand andclimate climatechange change Links between between waste Sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Palestine Transport, industries and households

2 million tonnes

62%

Waste management

23%

Agriculture 15%

0.75 million tonnes

0.5 million tonnes

CH4 Waste dumps

0.23 million tonnes Wastewater treatment

0.5 million tonnes

Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from waste The link between waste management and climate Rapid population growth is increasing the amount change may not seem obvious, but in Palestine it of waste and associated emissions, but there are is significant. Wastewater treatment and disposal several ways to decouple population growth from of waste in landfills cause methane emissions, emissions. Reducing food waste and increasing while waste open burning results in carbon dioxide composting results in less organic matter going emissions. All waste sources in Palestine together to landfill and less methane generation. LandFood waste Composting of Improved segregation Landfill gas Biogas production at account for 23% of all domestic greenhouse gas fill methane capture and biogas production from reduction organic waste and recycling (methane) capture small scale (farmers) emissions. agricultural and other organic waste can provide additional energy for local communities and reduce methane emissions.problems Finally, increased recycling Links between waste and water pollution helps to reduce the production and use of primary Population suffers from materials, as well as energy use and emissions. poor air and water quality

16

Wastewater treatment helps reduce water pollution

Poorly managed waste dumps pollute air and groundwater

Untreated wastewater discharge into the sea Tourism litter

Food waste reduction

Composting of organic waste

Improved segregation Landfill gas and recycling (methane) capture

Biogas production at small scale (farmers)

Links between waste and pollution problems Links between waste andwater water pollution problems Population suffers from poor air and water quality

Wastewater treatment helps reduce water pollution

Poorly managed waste dumps pollute air and groundwater

Untreated wastewater discharge into the sea Tourism litter

Untreated discharges and leaks from industries add to water pollution Scattered plastic waste affects water streams and drains into the sea

Pollution of the sea by surface sources

Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine

Water Informational quality can be affected by a number of Finally, untreated wastewater can cause health materials produced by the Environment Quality Authority and Zoi Environment Network. Funded by the UNEP Special Programme waste-related pollution sources. Plastic packaging problems and damage water ecosystems. Regular and bottles from land and coastal areas can be waste clean-up campaigns, environmentally sound washed into rivers, lakes and the sea and harm waste management, comprehensive wastewater aquatic life, while microplastics can harm human treatment systems and sanitary landfills help to health too. Used oil leaks from car repair shops reduce or minimise the impact of waste on water. and untreated urban runoff can introduce many pollutants into waterways. Outdated and unmanaged waste dumps can leach toxic substances into groundwater and affect water supply systems.

17

Important sources of mercury emissions and releases

Unintended emissions from the burning of coal, metal and cement production

Artisanal small scale gold mining

Mercury-containing e-waste, industrial waste and discharges

provisions of thebeMercury most of relevant to Palestine As anSelected element, mercury will always present inConvention Mismanagement waste containing mercury in our plant and in our environment. However, it is devices such as lamps, thermometers or batteries, a pollutant of concern and countries — the Parties as well as dental amalgam waste, leads to mercury Hg to the Minamata Convention — have set the goal contamination. This source is likely to be present Hg of reducing and, in Palestine.

Hg where possible, eliminating manmade emissions and releases of mercury.

Hg As a Party to the Minamata Convention, Palestine is Mercury supply Emissionstaking the Interim of understand Contaminated Mercury is still used by Mercury-added thousands of artisanal firststorage steps to the sites shape and sources and trade products and releases mercury and waste and health aspects small-scale gold miners around the world. As a resize of the mercury problem in the country. Despite sult, mercury enters water ecosystems and the limited access to international funding and limited atmosphere, threatening the environment and the technical capacity to sample and monitor mercury health of workers. Mercury is also pollution, it is important to review regulations and Hg released into Hg the air by coal-fired power plants, cement and train staff to identify and reduce mercury pollution, Hg other industries. These two sources account for inform the population about the health risks assomore than half of man-made mercury emissions ciated with mercury, and take measures to reduce worldwide, but are likely to be insignificant or exposure to mercury in e-waste recycling shops non-occurring in Palestine. and medical solid municipal waste collection Financial resources Capacity building, Initial assessment, Publicand information Information exchange technical assistance implementation plan and awareness and reporting and treatment.

Potential mercury sources and issues in Palestine 18

Hg

Hg

and cement production

waste and discharges

Unintended emissions from Artisanal small Mercury-containing the burning of coal, metal scale gold mining e-waste, industrial and cementof production waste and discharges Selected provisions the Mercury Convention most relevant to Palestine

Selected provisions of the Mercury Convention Hgmost relevant to Palestine Hg Hg Hg Hg

Mercury supply Hg sources and trade

Mercury-added products

Emissions and releases

Interim storage of mercury and waste

Hgsites Contaminated and health aspects

Hg

Mercury supply sources and trade

Mercury-added products

Emissions and releases

Hg

Interim storage of mercury and waste

Contaminated sites and health aspects

Hg

Hg

Hg Hg Financial resources

Hg

Capacity building, technical assistance

Initial assessment, Public information Information exchange implementation plan and awareness and reporting

mercuryInitial sources and issues in Palestine Financial resourcesPotential Capacity building, assessment, Public information Information exchange technical assistance implementation plan and awareness and reporting

Hg Potential mercury sources and issues in Palestine Hg

Hg Hg

Mercury in sludge

Mercury use in dental amalgam

Localised contamination

Mercury-containing waste burning and emissions

Global and regional atmospheric transfer and deposition

Mercury in sludge

Mercury use in dental amalgam

Localised contamination

Mercury-containing waste burning and emissions

Global and regional atmospheric transfer and deposition

Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine

Informational materials produced by the Environment Quality Authority and Zoi Environment Network. Funded by the UNEP Special Programme

Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine Informational materials produced by the Environment Quality Authority and Zoi Environment Network. Funded by the UNEP Special Programme

19

Sources of information Palestine report to the Basel Convention (2021, submitted in 2022): https://ers.basel.int/ERS-Extended/FeedbackServer/fsadmin. aspx?fscontrol=respondentReport&surveyid=83&voterid=56149&readonly=1&nomenu=1 Palestine report to the Stockholm Convention (submitted in 2022): https://ers.pops.int/ERS-Extended/FeedbackServer/fsadmin. aspx?fscontrol=respondentReport&surveyid=81&voterid=51397&readonly=1&nomenu=1 Atlas of Sustainable Development 2020, State of Palestine: https://palestine.un.org/en/150000-atlas-sustainable-development-2020 Palestine Initial National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC (2016): https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Initial%20National%20Communication%20Report_%20 State%20of%20Palestine.pdf National Strategy for Solid Waste Management in Palestine 2019–2022 Solid Waste Management in the occupied Palestinian Territory (2019): https://www.cesvi.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/SWM-in-Palestine-report-Thoni-and-Matar-2019_ compressed-1.pdf Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Waste theme page on the World Environment Day 2023 “Beat Plastic Pollution”: https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/post.aspx?lang=en&ItemID=4522

20

FINISH

48

47

EXCESSIVE USE OF AGRO-CHEMICALS

46

45

44

43

41

42

30

29

27

28

CLEAN THE POLLUTED WATER STREAM

49 36

37

38

39

34

33

32

23

24

40

WASTE BURNING

PLASTICS GET A SECOND LIFE

POOR HEALTH, INTOXICATION

35

22

21

SIGNIFICANT VIOLATION OF LAW

HAZARDOUS WASTE AND RELEASES FROM WORKSHOPS

20

NATURE POISONING, DESTRUCTION

PAPER GETS A SECOND LIFE

25

PLASTIC WASTE SEPARATION AND RECYCLING

31

26

THROW AWAY A MERCURYCONTAINING THERMOMETER

Hg

PAPER WASTE SEPARATION AND RECYCLING

19

8

9

10

7

6

5

LESS ORGANIC WASTE, BENEFITS FOR AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE

18

17

11

12

4

3

SEPARATE FOOD WASTE AND DONATE IT TO FARMERS

16

15

13

14

MERCURY EMISSIONS TOXIC FOR HUMAN HEALTH

WASTE AND CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT

1

START

Selected provisions of the Mercury Convention most relevant to Palestine Hg

Hg

Hg Hg

Mercury supply sources and trade

Mercury-added products

Emissions and releases

Interim storage of mercury and waste

Contaminated sites and health aspects

Hg

Hg

Hg

Hg

Financial resources

Capacity building, technical assistance

Initial assessment, Public information Information exchange implementation plan and awareness and reporting

Potential mercury sources and issues in Palestine

Hg

Hg

Mercury in sludge

Mercury use in dental amalgam

Localised contamination

Mercury-containing waste burning and emissions

Global and regional atmospheric transfer and deposition

Sound Management of Waste and Chemicals in Palestine Informational materials produced by the Environment Quality Authority and Zoi Environment Network. Funded by the UNEP Special Programme