POPs management in Belarus

International Technical Assistance Project on Persistent Organic Pollutant Stock Management

At present, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus carries out the International Technical Assistance Project on Persistent Organic Pollutant Stock Management (Component C of the Belarus Integrated Solid Waste Management Project) designed to assist this country with addressing the problem of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

This Project is financed with the grant provided to Belarus by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through the World Bank. The amount of the grant is US Dollars 5.5 million; the project implementation period is 2010-2013.

The key project outcomes were the elimination of the Slonim Obsolete Pesticide Landfill, as well as exportation of obsolete pesticides and waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to other countries and their destruction in these countries.
2,006 tons of obsolete pesticides were extracted and repacked in the process of elimination of the Slonim Obsolete Pesticide Landfill; the pesticides were mostly exported and destroyed at a specialized facility in Germany.

It is planned to complete destruction of the obsolete pesticides extracted from the Slonim Landfill in 2013.

In 2012, 823 tons of PCB waste from 14 companies throughout the country were exported and destroyed in an environmentally sound manner.

Owing to the implementation of the project component, the overall amount of PCBs in the country was reduced by 17%.

Also, the project has the following important outcomes:

  • development of a uniform POPs data base;
  • development and approval of a program on PCB treatment in the Republic of Belarus;
  • implementation of an international program on training in POPs monitoring and analysis for professionals of the MNREP laboratories;
  • updates of the obsolete pesticide and PCB inventories.

The project outcomes have made a significant contribution into implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants by the Republic of Belarus, protection of human health and the environment from the impact of POPs.


Please see the presentation for more detailed information about the project activities and outcomes.