ESM and disposal of PCBs

Transcription

1 ESM and disposal of PCBs Regional training workshop Kingston, February 2nd to 5th 2009

2 What does it mean? ESM stands for Environmentally Sound Management. Here sound means the state-of-the-art. What is available and practical. Management covers alls activities related to PCB, in our case. Somehow you can compare the ESM system for PCB with the ISO 900x.

3 Who is involved in that system? 1. Ministries. 2. Central organization responsible for the system at all. 3. Potential owners of PCB. 4. Logistic companies that may transport PCB. 5. Maintenance companies for electrical equipment that may contain PCB. 6. Laboratories and other scientific organizations. 7. Waste industries. 8. Scrap dealers and similar companies. 9. Public in general.

4 What does it cover? In general everything where PCB could be present from cradle to grave. 1. Sampling of suspected devices for testing 2. Analysis 3. Identification of PCB and labelling 4. Awareness of hazards with PCB 5. Precautions with identified PCB containing devices in service 6. Reporting 7. Phase out and disposal 8. Storage 9.

5 How should it look like? If the ESM system should be successful, it should be handled countrywide in the same way and must have the character of a law or regulation. Some chapters may have the character of guidelines. There are ESM systems in some developed countries which may be used, but must be modified according to the needs in the individual country.

6 ESM and inventory The first phase of each project is related to the preliminary inventory in order to get a rough overview of the PCB problem. Later on you will have to go for a comprehensive inventory which will take much longer and could be considered as process. The ESM system must regulate the reporting and control the whole system of identification and disposal later on. As party of the SC the focal point has to report existing quantities of PCB and disposed quantities to the secretariat of the SC. The ESM system will play the mandatory guideline for all around the inventory in each country.

7 ESM and maintenance What is valid for the inventory, is valid for maintenance as well. The ESM will define what kind of maintenance can be done under which conditions. See the maintenance presentation. Everything what will be discussed and finally settled concerning maintenance with PCB containing devices will be in the ESM system. The maintenance part in the ESM will already require an own workshop of 2 days with the participation of involved stakeholders, especially all entities doing maintenance on electrical devices. Important is here the practice of re-classification of oil transformers that had PCB and are now PCB-free after an oil change.

8 ESM and risk assessment Part of the ESM system will be as well the consideration of risks by PCB due to the location (e.g. neighbourhood like kindergarten or school), age of the equipment (e.g. over 30 years old), condition of equipment (e.g. leaking) or any other important aspect which may cause impacts to humans or the environment. The ESM will define the risks and the consequences for the equipment.

9 ESM and handling (including transportation) Handling means all activities with PCB containing devices except maintenance. That will be the drainage and removal of devices prior to transportation or any similar activity. The ESM will define who is allowed to do it and under which circumstances. E.g., it may request special trained companies. Transportation usually have to fulfil the requirements of the international standards for transportation of PCB, like IMDG for shipment.

10 Suitable Packages for PCB Drums for liquid / solid material Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC) for PCB Special containers with metal tray inside IMDG, ADR, IATA

11 ESM and interim storage The ESM will define the requirements for interim storages, the education of staff working at it and the reporting system. See at the presentation of the interim storage. We can say that the ESM will develop the manual of the interim storage activities.

12 ESM and disposal You remember, from cradle to grave. Finally the ESM will settle as well the requirements of proper disposal. It will define what is acceptable and what not. The ESM system is a vital instrument and will be changed or modified along the time it is used latest till the end of 2028! Disposal technologies may be developed that are not known today. Therefore it is important to open the door for new technologies that may come up in the future. The existing disposal technologies are listed in the Basel Convention. They are as well responsible to upgrade the list of environmentally sound disposal technologies.

13 Why interim storage? 1. No treatment facility in the Caribbean region 2. Existing wild stores are not appropriate 3. Equipment may be in bad outer conditions 4. Direct export for disposal not economically due to quantity 5. Local people are not trained properly and lack on experience

14 What are basically considerations for it? 1. Storage area should be safe against earthquake, flooding and other natural impacts. 2. Location should be close where many equipment will be expected. 3. Neighbourhood should be considered as well (e.g. not in urban areas, not beside fire critical places like refineries etc.) 4. Safe transport should be guaranteed. 5. Technical outlay will be important as well see next slight.

15 Technical conditions for a proper interim storage 1. Total storage area should be protected against unauthorized entry. Labels should be put on the building. 2. Rooms for storage of PCB in UN certified packages should at least have no channels going out. Air should blow through in order to avoid humidity which will lead to corrosion with the packaging. 3. Area where transformers are stored or any handling of PCB liquid should be protected by a metal vat which will take over all theoretical liquid which may be in the stored equipment. 4. A detector for organic chlorine is recommended to control the air. 5. Emergency equipment should be provided for staff and against leakages (e.g. absorbents).

16 Organizational conditions for an interim storage 1. Country-wide ESM system is adapted. 2. Staff is trained according to their needs. 3. Reporting system for in and out-going amounts is installed. 4. Frequent reports for the focal point on quantities. 5. Daily report book on accidents and failures etc.

17 What can be done at an interim storage? 1. PCB that is already loaded in UN certified packaging can be stored easily. Nevertheless frequent inspections should be done. 2. Half empty packaging could be filled up with other material of the same type, e.g. ballast capacitors. Don t ship 2 half full drums. 3. PCB that is not packed according to international standards will be repacked in order to meet the standard. 4. Transformers can be drained of properly by using special drainage systems which are hermetically sealed. 5. Same PCB waste types from different owners can be collected for a more economically disposal.

18 Temporary Storage and Transport Temporary storage draining of PCB oils into UN-certified drums for transport storage in suitable and monitored area (metal basin,...) Authority permits Permit of local authority for PCB handling and transport Export and waste movement permit according to Basle Convention Road and sea transport packing and transport according to applicable rules: ADR, IMDG, UN 2315, class 9

19 Final statement to interim storages Interim storages are no options for final disposal!!!

20 Recycling / Disposal Technologies Regional training workshop Kingston, February 2nd to 4th 2009

21 What do we need? A solution for: Liquids Capacitors Soils and other solid materials Empty, but still high contaminated transformers

22 Liquids, capacitors, other solid PCB waste I There are several different technologies available: Plasma technology Specialized incineration Hydrogen technology Sodium technology Biological technology Specialized storage (in most cases the worst solution!).

23 Liquids, capacitors, other solid PCB waste II Each technology has its special advantages and disadvantages, and they are not everywhere possible (especially the biological) or economical. If you need further information, you will find them at UNEP websites. All technologies are expensive and you have seriously to consider whether you will invest or export.

24 Empty transformers I Let us take this depart from the others as there is an interesting approach. After drain off there is still about 8 to 10 % of the liquid inside, mainly in the wood, paper, between the core sheets and on the interior surface. There are several companies (mainly in Europe, US, Canada, Australia) who have special technologies for decontaminating these empty transformers. After dismantling there is only wood, paper and some liquid left for further technologies (like mentioned above). Another technology (sodium based) decontaminates transformers on-site for further use, but the technology is limited on the initial contamination and makes no sense if the transformer itself is in bad conditions. Refilling these treated transformers with oil may cause special preparations for the location. You remember, the Askarel transformer had been chosen because of the nonflammability and oil is generally inflammable!

25 Empty transformers II These decontamination technologies are cheaper than the destruction technologies for the other PCB waste. The operation requires trained personnel and controlled processes. The area should be prepared for that special treatment and any precautions and emergency measures have to be taken. Have a look on the interior of a transformer

26 Interior of a transformer

27 Core sheets of a transformer I

28 General considerations All types of PCB recycling / disposal technologies cost investment, will have enormous treatment costs. Based on the costs you have to calculate the potential, that means the total amount (based on a good and reliable inventory!) is a key figure for the decision. E.g. for the transformer decontamination you should have a secured quantity of about 1,500 to 2,000 tons of empty transformers per year for about 8 to 10 years, from the economical aspect. That is about 15,000 tons in total guaranteed! This quantity must come year by year and not 200 tons in the first year, another 300 in the next two years and 2,500 later on.

29 Potential solutions for the Caribbean Region Regional training for inventory (preliminary and full) Regional training for sampling Country-wise testing of samples for PCB by L 2000 Development of a data base for each country Regional training on ESM systems Establishment of proper interim storage for each country/island Regional training on requirements for operating such interim storages Disposal of PCB by exportation Collecting PCB at several interim storages will enlarge the quantities and reduce the shipment costs

30 Final comments I I expect that most of the present countries have lower quantities of PCB. That will not really justify a UN project for each country. Therefore the approach via a regional project would favourable. Furthermore many activities are comparable and can easily be copied for each country. Interim storages can be used for PCB and pesticides. Analytical devices or services can be provided for circulation. E.g., I am able to test around 100 oil samples for PCB per day. Some countries may have only some hundred transformers. Test equipment and knowledge would be used only for one week. Packaging material for final shipment can be provided cheaper at the same standard. Work overload what may occur (seldom) can be handled easier by support of stuff of neighbourhood countries which had the same education through regional training.

31 Final comments II I would favour a Full Size Project (FSP) for the participating countries in one regional project for PCB and pesticides as already indicated by UNEP. The country infrastructure will be always more or less the same. Thus costs would be as well the same. Final disposal will vary as some countries have lower quantities than others. Here the costs will be according to the exporting quantities.