DRAFT 5
Asian Regional Demonstration Project for the Environmentally Sound and Socially
Responsible Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries through the Promotion of the Best Operating, Occupational Hygiene, Safety and Employment Practices.
1. Project Background.
Background information about used lead acid batteries
Approximately 65% of worldwide lead consumption is from recycled Lead, or Secondary
Lead, and the main sources of Secondary Lead are Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB), including by far the largest proportion being automotive batteries. Although there is an increasing demand for Lead Acid storage batteries for telecommunications, solar energy and remote area power (RAPS) supply, and the widespread use of Lead Acid UPS
(Uninterrupted Power Supply) batteries for IT systems adds to the list of secondary sources
ULAB are classified as a hazardous waste under the Basel Convention for the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) 1 and transboundary movements of such waste are regulated by this international environmental convention To provide guidance on the environmentally sound management
(ESM) of ULAB, Parties to the Convention adopted the Basel Technical Guidelines for the
Environmentally Sound Management of Lead Acid Battery Wastes 2 .
In addition, the secretariat of the Basel Convention developed several tools to help parties with the practical aspects of the ESM of ULAB, such as the Basel Convention Training
Manual on National Management Plans for Used Lead Acid Batteries 3 and the Rapid
Assessment Tool .
The environmentally sound management of ULAB and the recovery of lead as a secondary raw material that is essential to today’s globalized economy have been the subject of specific attention by international organizations in the last years in different parts of the world. Previous Projects in the Philippines 4 and Thailand 5 with the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in conjunction with the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) and the International Lead Management Center (ILMC) together with Waste Management Initiatives in Thailand and Malaysia 6 , have identified a number of Secondary Lead Plants that are environmentally sound, notably Philippine
Recyclers (PRI) in Manila and Metal Reclamation Industries in Kuala Lumpur.
1 Text of the Basel Convention - http://www.basel.int/text/documents.html
2 Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management of Waste Lead Acid Batteries - http://www.basel.int/pub/techguid/tech-wasteacid.pdf
3 Basel Training Manual on National Management Plans for Used Lead Acid Batteries - http://www.basel.int/meetings/sbc/workdoc/tm-ulab/techdocs.html
4 Requirements for Environmentally Sound and Economically Viable Management of Lead in the Philippines - http://r0.unctad.org/trade_env/docs/Cost-pa1.pd
f
5 Workshop on Building National Capacity - www.unctad.org/trade_env/docsbangkok/Sum-Phil-Guerrero.doc
6 Asia Solid and Hazardous Waste Management: Trade Expo and Conference, November 7th – 9th, 2001, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.
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There may well be other Smelters in the Region with sound recovery practices and operations, but compliance with strict environmental, occupational and safety legislation dictates that Secondary Lead Plants are relatively expensive to build, operate and maintain; hence the need for high volumes of ULAB for plants to be viable, and the reason why most countries do not have Secondary Lead plants.
Because the majority of countries do not have any or sufficient ULAB capacity to maintain a viable Secondary Lead Sector the only way that ULAB can be recovered in an environmentally sound manner is by the shipment or transport of ULAB from those countries without appropriate recycling capacity to soundly managed facilities located in countries with smelting capacity.
Indeed, good examples of environmentally sound practice for the collection and shipment of ULAB in Asia in compliance with international and national environmental regulations and standards have been documented in Asia, notably in Singapore. However, a Basel
Convention Secretariat (SBC) sponsored study in Cambodia in 2004 7 identified that this country was an exporter of ULAB, because there were no environmentally sound smelters anywhere in the country. Evidence collected and collated during the study indicated that virtually all ULAB in Cambodia were collected and exported to Vietnam for recovery. The study also showed that ULAB collection and transport practices were not all entirely environmentally sound. In most instances ULAB were drained of electrolyte (dilute sulfuric acid) either prior to transport to a collection center or before export to Vietnam, which is contrary to internationally adopted ESM principles on the matter. Furthermore, despite the requirement for the country exporting the ULAB to ensure ESM under the Transboundary
Movement Regulations for Hazardous Waste, assurances for the environmentally sound recovery of the ULAB in importing countries were no obtained. Given that Thailand,
Malaysia and China do not permit the import of ULAB, the environmentally sound recovery options that countries without ULAB recycling capacity have are very limited. There is enough evidence to believe that the situation in Cambodia is not an isolated case and that countries such as Laos, Nepal, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar and some others are also finding it very difficult to comply with prevailing legislative requirements for the ESM of
ULAB, including the control of their transboundary movements.
Indeed, recent evidence from Central America and Asia suggests that smuggling of drained
ULAB between “informals” is still a problem, especially in the prevailing economic climate.
The Ministerial Declaration on Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes was adopted by the 5 th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention in December
1999. The Ministerial Declaration called for enhanced partnerships between the public and private sector to improve the manner in which hazardous wastes and recyclables are managed in developing countries, thereby minimizing the potential risks to human health and the environment posed by these substances.
7 ULAB Inventory and National Action Plan for Cambodia - http://www.basel.int/centers/proj_activ/stp_projects/03-
01.doc
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Another SBC funded ULAB Recovery Project involving a dozen countries in Central
America and the Caribbean was implemented in recent years on the principles that regional solutions for resolving lead recovery issues were attainable should an integrated management approach be followed by all stakeholders in the supply chain.
The Caribbean project has shown that through enhanced collaboration between all public and private sectors, including the different Government agencies concerned, one region could create the conditions for the development of a regional strategy (and action plan) that would be environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially responsible.
Experience in implementing the ULAB Recovery Project in Central America and the
Caribbean has also shown that an effective model for facilitating the transition to an environmentally sound recovery mechanism for ULAB, requires a stepwise approach in developing national programs. Also, in order for synergies between those countries with
ULAB recycling capacity and those without recycling capacity to be fully exploited on a
Regional basis, there has to be close cooperation between Governments and the Lead
Industry at all levels, from the retailer, through the ULAB collection network and the recyclers. The timely consolidation in a regional context of these country driven programs is another important factor, which also requires consideration of the life cycle of the batteries and their passage throughout the region. The Caribbean region was able to rely and build on its own lead recycling capacity and links with Venezuela, taking into consideration the needs for technological improvements.
Environmental and health related issues
ULAB are important and valuable resources for secondary lead, but if managed improperly, the constituents of the Lead Acid Batteries (LAB), such as the lead, lead oxides and sulfuric acid, may pose a threat to human health and the environment. Furthermore, unless hygienic and safe working practices are followed, recycling of ULAB can also pose a threat to the workers employed in the recycling industry as well as a very direct threat to populations at risk in the informal sector such as women and children.
Unsustainable practices in the collection and recycling of ULAB are found in particular in those countries that lack strictly controlled recycling practices and smelting capacity.
“Informal” recyclers of ULAB typically do not have adequate environmental controls for furnace emissions, aqueous discharges, and the disposal of the furnace residues.
Furthermore, working conditions are normally unsafe and unhygienic, and workers who are only given the most basic instruction to operate equipment, will be expected to work without the provision of any personal protective equipment. In the absence of a clear NAP for the safe collection and recovery of ULAB, the “informal” sector will find a niche market and pollute the environment and contaminate the workers and local populations living near to any recovery operations.
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Recent events in Dakar, Senegal where “informal” lead recovery from ULAB contributed to the deaths of 18 infants is a tragic example of the worst excesses of uncontrolled and illicit
ULAB recycling. Evidence strongly suggests that the environmentally unsound practices being used in Senegal to recover ULAB are typical of many recycling operations in many developing countries.
Background information on the situation in Asia
As far as establishing a Regional Strategy for the ESM of ULAB in Asia is concerned there are a number of considerations:
- Firstly Asia is a huge and diverse region with a variety of geographical challenges and different national laws and regulations governing the import and export of ULAB;
- There is a great variety in levels of compliance to the Basel Convention obligations concerning the monitoring and control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste as well as to the objectives and principles of ESM as set in the Basel
Convention Technical Guidelines. There is preliminary indication of Secondary Lead
Plants operating at the highest ESM standards and complying to the obligations of the Basel Convention while other operations such as in the informal sector could take place in the worst conditions. At least one facility has obtained ISO 14001 certification for ESM ;
- Asia is the place of the highest production of primary lead, as well as the production of secondary lead. China is also the largest importer of lead concentrate and producer of primary and secondary Lead Bullion in the World
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. The quantity of lead material being introduced in the production cycle has followed the steady increase in the production of cars. The region is also at the forefront of technology for the generation of renewable energy such as solar panels which rely on lead acid batteries for the storage of energy
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;
- Regional trade patterns in ULAB and secondary lead material are well established, thanks to the availability of smelting facilities in the region for decades and a stable overall legal infrastructure that has little changed since the 90’;
- Lead recycling employs a significant number of people in the region, with an important share of this population working in the informal sector. Some of the operations taking place in the informal sector such as ULAB collection, breaking, transport, and lead recovery in an artisanal manner are potentially exposing the workers to lead and threatening the health of the people involved;
8 Would be important to give data.
9 Would ILZSG have some data on this ? that would be very helpful.
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- There is a high level of knowledge and expertise amongst a group of leading players in the region with knowledge of the required steps in the development of strategies for the ESM of ULAB in a manner consistent with the BTG and LAB Responsible
Life Cycle Management.
- There is a regional divergence as regards the lead-scrap supply and demand situation at country level is concerned. Some countries (such as Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines) are large producers/exporters of lead batteries and/or producers/exporters of vehicles, which suffer from a chronic shortage of ULABderived lead scrap. The other countries have no appropriate lead recycling industry and thus an oversupply of ULAB, for which there is no proper use in the country.
- This divergence leads to pull effects that may drive illicit cross-border ULAB movements from ULAB surplus to deficit countries, unless such trade is allowed and properly regulated.
2. Commodity Strategy in Asia
The Study Group’s strategy for lead and zinc is firstly to increase their competitiveness in existing end uses and help develop new sustainable applications that help increase overall demand for lead and zinc. The Study Group also works to improve productivity through more efficient means of production, foster an improved regulatory and market framework, and to promote prudent production, use and recycling taking into consideration economic, health and environmental concerns (e.g. through promoting technology transfer and sharing best/appropriate practices).
At 65% of lead consumption from recycled material, Lead is by far the most recycled metal and any increase in the percentage of recycled Lead in new products will help to raise sustainability. Countries in transition and developing countries have an important role to play in raising the sustainability of Lead Products, as they offer the greatest potential for market expansion, and therefore require increased recovery and recycling. However, some developing countries lack the internal infrastructure, technical experience and in some cases, the marketing expertise to encourage sustainable production and consumption.
The Study Group’s development strategy to improve longer-term competitiveness of lead and zinc produced and consumed in developing countries has the following components:
- Transfer of technology and best practices aimed at product improvement and vertical diversification
- Development of new applications for lead and zinc where its properties improve the performance and competitiveness of the final product
- Promotion of technologies which will improve environmental standards
- Effective and efficient recycling to make best use of resources, materials and promote sustainable development.
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This project to increase the environmentally sound recovery of ULAB fits very well with the
Study Group’s strategy to consider economic, health and environmental concerns. In particular, this project will promote best working practices and raise not only standards of environmental performance, but also occupational health, safety and increase recycling efficiencies. The focus on the growing economies of the developing countries in Asia is also an important aspect of the strategy.
3. Institutions Involved & Responsibilities
3.1. Institutions and Associations involved in the Project
3.1.1 International Lead Zinc Study Group (ILZSG)
ILZSG was formed by the United Nations in 1959 to:
 provide opportunities for regular intergovernmental consultations on international trade in lead and zinc,
 provide continuous information on the supply and demand position of lead and zinc and its probable development and to make special studies of the world situation in lead and zinc,
 consider possible solutions to any problems or difficulties which are unlikely to be resolved in the ordinary development of world trade.
Internet: http://www.ilzsg.org/static/howwebegan.aspx
3.1.2 International Labour Organization (ILO)
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue in handling work-related issues.
The ILO Green Jobs program aims to promote jobs that are respectful of labour standards and contribute to the development of environmentally sustainable policies. The ILO implements technical assistance programs in Asia & the Pacific through its regional and country offices in particular including in the field of skills development, occupational health and safety, and social dialogue.
Internet: http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/lang--en/index.htm
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3.1.3 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Established in 1964, UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and foreign trade are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.
In the UN system, UNCTAD is the focal point on trade, development and commodity issues. The organization has a long history and expertise of work on various commodity issues, including sustainable commodity managements and recovery and recycling of metals.
Internet: http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=1530&lang=1
3.1.4 Secretariat to the Basel Convention (SBC)
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement on hazardous and other wastes. The Convention has 172 Parties and aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, management, transboundary movements and disposal of hazardous and other wastes. The
Basel Convention came into force in 1992.
Internet: www.basel.int
3.1.5 Basel Convention Regional Centers in Indonesia and China (BCRC)
The BCRC ’s deliver training, dissemination of information, consulting, awareness raising activities and technology transfer on matters relevant to the implementation of the Basel
Convention and to the environmentally sound management of hazardous and other wastes in the countries they serve. The specific activities are training workshops, seminars, pilot projects on the management of priority waste streams, the production of information material and guidelines.
Examples of activities organized by the BCRC ’s relevant to this Project include:

Training workshops on reporting and inventories of hazardous wastes

Reviews of existing national and international legislation on monitoring and control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their ESM

National workshops on the monitoring and control of hazardous waste

Regional workshops on the prevention and monitoring of illegal traffic of hazardous and other wastes

Pilot projects on inventories of hazardous wastes

Regional projects on the environmentally sound management of ULAB
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
Development of regional technical guidelines and tools (such as Registers for ESM)
Internet: http://www.basel.int/centers/description/BCRCataGlance.pdf
3.1.6 International Lead Association (ILA-Lead)
The Lead Industry, represented by the International Lead Association, is committed to the safe production and use of Lead and Lead products, safeguarding human health and minimizing the impact of Lead products on the natural environment.
The Lead Industry supports a range of outreach and responsible care initiatives in the
International arena and works with Governments and Inter-Governmental Agencies to promote the use of Best Practice throughout the Lead Life Cycle.
Internet: http://www.ila-lead.org/
3.1.7 International Lead Management Center
The International Lead Industry is committed, through the International Lead Management
Center (ILMC), to work with Governments, Industry Associations, and the international environmental community to manage the risk of lead exposure.
The International Lead Management Center is responsible for the implementation of a range of voluntary Industry Lead Risk Management Projects. The ILMC Risk Management
Project is consistent with the recommendation in the UNCED Agenda 21 for action by governments and industry to enhance the sound management of chemicals.
ILMC complements and supports existing international risk management activities and responds to the individual needs of countries who wish to introduce such projects in either industry or their local communities.
The I
LMC provides expert assistance through the Center’s considerable network of technical, metallurgical and occupational health expertise by working with national governments and interested parties to identify the most appropriate risk management options.
Internet: www.ilmc.org
3.1.8 Chinese Green Lead Work Group
The Green Lead Initiative is a proactive product stewardship program based on the sound management of materials and products in the Lead Life Cycle (LLC). The Project promotes sustainability through the introduction and maintenance of product and operational Protocols that promote positive impacts and continuous improvement. The Chinese Green Lead Work
Group is dedicated to the introduction and adoption of the Green Lead Protocols in a manner consistent with the Basel Technical Guidelines throughout the whole of the LLC.
Internet: http://www.greenlead.com/Chinese_Index%20with%20Work%20Group.html
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3.1.9 China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association (CMRA)
The China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association represents the Lead Primary and
Secondary Lead Industries in China and in conjunction with the respective Government
Agencies organizes and participates in the formulation and revision of standards for viable technologies, Lead products, raw materials for import and export and waste management.
The Association also organizes and participates in international forums that promote the exchange of information about clean technologies, equipment and products; organizes and receives overseas visitors and foreign missions, and promotes and coordinates international exchanges.
Internet:
3.2 http://en.cmra.cn/newEbiz1/EbizPortalFG/portal/html/index.html
Project Responsibilities
The ILZSG is the implementing agency for this Project. A brief implementation plan will be developed that will determine the responsibilities of each of the partner organizations in project implementation, in accordance with their respective areas of competence and capacity.
The national Governments of the countries targeted by the project (Ministries of
Environment, Health, Labour and so on) will be closely associated to the implementation and conduct of national activities. The national (ILO) constituents will be closely associated to project development at the country level and will participate in the regional gatherings.
Much of the field work required to undertake ESM Assessments for plant and collection facilities to establish the Demonstration Models will be undertaken by the ILMC and national partner organizations (such as CMRA in China), including Assessment Training for participants.
Field training in the area of Occupational Health and safety (OSH) will be organized in close collaboration between the ILMC, ILO and the national stakeholders, including employers and employees organizations.
Meetings and site visits will be coordinated by the Study Group, but organized locally by the respective Government Agencies in conjunction with the participating organization(s).
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4. Project Rational
The Asian Lead acid battery market is the fastest growing in the world, even during the current 2009 worldwide recession. Whilst Lead acid batteries are rechargeable, they have a limited useful life and need to be replaced on a regular basis. However, the components of the modern Lead acid battery can be recovered and recycled to produce a range of saleable products including refined Lead and polypropylene.
During UNCTAD and SBC ULAB Recovery Projects in the Philippines, Cambodia and
ASEAN, several environmentally sound ULAB smelters and ULAB Collection Centers were identified, but there is growing evidence from NGOs in India and Thailand, and more recently from a Study in Vietnam by the International Finance Corporation that there are also many “informal sector” environmentally unsound recovery operations.
ULAB recovery operations traditionally pay scant regard to environmental management, occupational health, operational safety and population lead exposure.
In addition, “informal sector” activities provide evidence of poor Product Stewardship and do nothing to promote the safe and responsible use and disposal of Lead acid batteries.
The SBC ULAB Recovery Project in Cambodia in 2006 demonstrated that in many cases non-compliance with the BTG was due to ignorance on the part of the ULAB collectors, because the BTG is only widely available in the seven UN languages and was not available in the native Khmer language. One of the major outcomes of the Cambodian Project was the translation of the BTG and other useful information about Best Industry Practice.
It is therefore logical that in this project all relevant information about the BTG and Best
Industry Practice for ESM should be translated into the appropriate native language and distributed to those companies and individuals involved in ULAB recovery.
The same argument is also applicable to the education of LAB users so that ULAB are returned to the Formal Sector for recycling. Literature and ESM information relating to the correct procedures for the return and disposal of ULAB will have to be made available in the appropriate native languages to battery retailers, car repair shops and car showrooms to raise public awareness about the risks of not disposing of ULAB correctly.
However, the reason for the widespread collection and recycling of ULAB is because of the poverty among “informals”, the economic value of ULAB and the ready market for recycled lead ingots. Informal Sector activity in the recovery and recycling of ULAB in the developing and emerging economies is virtually endemic. However, the informal sector is very effective at ULAB collection and if their ability to collect ULAB could be linked to the environmentally sound recycling operations and their environmentally unsound operations curtailed as a consequence, much of the potential pollution and population exposure associated with informal smelting would be eliminated at a stroke.
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The fact that the informal Sector does not have the financial “overheads” associated with the cost of installing, running and maintaining environmental and hygiene control systems means that they can afford to pay a higher price for ULAB than the smaller smelters in the
Formal Sector. However, this unfair distortion can be “corrected” by introducing “economic instruments” such as levies on the price of new automotive batteries and “Deposit Refund”
Schemes. For example a levy of say, US$ 5 – or a socially acceptable and appropriate amount, refundable on return of the ULAB to an approved smelter or ULAB Collection
Center, would mean that the “informals” would have to pay a premium of US$ 5 over and above the price they would normally pay for ULAB
– and for the “informals” the premium would not be refunded. This additional cost to their operations would either drive them out of business or into working with the Formal Sector.
Furthermore, smelting operations in Asia that are in the process of upgrading to comply with International Environmental Standards and the BCTG would benefit from an exchange of information and an appreciation of environmental excellence, whether that is ULAB collection or smelting.
Sharing information about operations is always a sensitive issue between companies, but in
Asia many of the ULAB recycling companies do not compete with each other because
ULAB imports are not permitted. This is the case with the world’ biggest Lead producer,
China and the similar national legislation applies in Thailand and Malaysia. Hence best environmental methodologies and technology exchanges between Chinese and Filipino
Companies is possible because they are not business rivals.
The non competitive element between companies will be an essential component of this project and it means that selection of the participating countries should enable and maximize the exchanges necessary to raise environmental performance.
The Countries invited to participate in this Project are the Ministries of Environment,
Labour, Health, and Trade and Industry from:
Cambodia - Exporter of ULAB by land
China - Domestic recycling of ULAB only
Indonesia
Philippines
Singapore
Vietnam
- Domestic and imported ULAB recycling
- Domestic and imported ULAB recycling
- Exporter of ULAB by land and sea
- Domestic and imported ULAB recycling
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5. Goals and Objectives
5.1 Goals
To develop and test a regional voluntary mechanism for the introduction of sustainability performance indicators in the used lead acid battery recycling sector in Asia.
To determination of the necessary steps required for the development of a registration/certification mechanism for the ESM of ULAB, including appropriate forms of public-private partnerships that assure environmentally sound and economically viable ULAB collection, lead recovery and the creation of “green” employment opportunities in the lead recovery industry.
Specific goals o Confirmation of a set of environment, occupational health and social performance related protocols and norms covering the life cycle of lead in the
ULAB recycling sector; o The identification and establishment of regional sustainability compliance mechanisms (such as certification by independent specialized companies, central or regional registration and monitoring procedure for Government appointed ESM facilities, etc.) and registration of ESM Operations; o Assistance to key economic players and other players in the ULAB recycling sector in Asia, including ILO constituents, for participation in the proposed regional sustainability compliance mechanism, through information sharing, training, delivery of advisory services and capacity building;
5.2 Objectives
5.2.1 To identify viable ULAB Recovery Models across the Region in participating countries that clearly demonstrate ESM, compliance with sustainability norms for each recovery stage in the Life Cycle of a LAB. That is for ULAB:
- Collection
- Storage
- Packaging
- Transport or Shipping
- Recycling
5.2.2 To set up an open and accessible register of those companies, operations and sites that are deemed to be environmentally sound, compliant with the BCTG, Socially
Responsible and contribute towards a sustainable approach to the LAB Life Cycle.
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5.2.3 Currently there is a Green Lead Work Group in China under the Leadership of the
China Non-Ferrous Metals Association and as the Green Lead Protocols are based on LAB Life Cycle Management and incorporate the BTG, include the essential aspects of Occupational Health, Safety, Social Responsibility and Site
Sustainability, it may be desirable and expedient to utilize the Green Lead ESM
Assessment Tool for this Project.
5.2.4 To set up a National and Regional conformance mechanism through registration/certification and monitoring of ESM based on the life cycle management principles through the use of the agreed Assessment Tool by designated and accredited Assessors and Auditors.
5.2.5 To Pilot the Registration/Certification Scheme on a voluntary basis in the Region with a view to using the information as a control mechanism for ULAB recovery in the Region.
5.2.6 To promote collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and the social partners in participating countries on the development of a regional mechanism for the economically efficient, socially responsible and environmentally sound management of ULAB;
5.2.7 To promote the free exchange of information in the appropriate native languages related to the introduction of Environmentally Sound handling, transporting and recycling of ULAB through case studies and real demonstration models of ESM.
5.2.8
To promote a “single approach” mechanism to resolve chronic environmental, health and safety issues of common interest to the UN Agencies, such as the ILO, the SBC, UNCTAD; Intergovernmental bodies such as the ILZSG; the Lead
Industry through the respective associations such as the China Non Ferrous Metals
Industry Association, the ILMC and the ILA, and National Governments.
5.2.9 To demonstrate the technical and institutional feasibility, economic viability and sustainability, and social acceptance of a Regional scheme or schemes in Asia for the ESM of ULAB.
5.2.10 To translate into the appropriate native languages and make available to all those involved in ULAB recovery, the BTG for the ESM of ULAB, the Basel Training
Manual for the development of National Action Plans for the ESM of ULAB, the
Green Lead ESM Assessment Tool and Manual, Best Practice notes for safe and sustainable operations.
5.2.11 To make available to all parties details of schemes for promoting the ESM of ULAB through the use of economic instruments such as levies on the purchase of new batteries and “Deposit Refund Schemes”.
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6. Activities
6.1 A regional “kick-off” meeting
A two-day project launching regional meeting will be held comprising of representatives from the Lead Industry Associations, social partners and supporting International Partners.
The meeting will also be attended by the national coordinators of the project in each target country and one representative from the BCRC in Jakarta and Beijing.
Outputs/results: The meeting will fine-tune the work program, the tasks and the division of tasks among the partners involved.
6.2 A regional experts group.
A regional expert group will be created that will be composed of representatives from industry and social partners, governmental agencies, specialized international agencies and other relevant stakeholders. Its task will be to select the environment, health and social norms and protocols that will form the basis for the ‘sustainability mechanisms’ to be used in the project. The group will be given only limited ability to further modify or amend existing protocols and norms. The protocols of the Green Lead Initiative will be included in the project with the view to further monitoring the pilot testing of the regional compliance mechanism.
Outputs/results: a set of norms/protocols selected covering environment, social and health issues of relevance to the ESM of ULAB, recommendations for the use of these protocols and technical assistance to stakeholders in the context of the project.
6.3 Information collection in the region.
The first stage for the Project is to collate existing information and data from other ULAB projects in the Asian Region to examine an inventory of the likely sources of ULAB, with particular attention to the quantities, collection mechanisms, collection rates and possible trends in ULAB for the next five years. It is not necessary for the purpose of this demonstration project to undertake further inventories of ULAB or develop NAP until the end of the Project. This inventory will also include a list of Government licensed secondary lead plants and where possible, a summary of smelting capacity, environmental control systems and occupational welfare provisions. In certain instances it will also be possible to list the unlicensed ULAB reconditioners and illegal smelters with a note of their operations and real or potential threats to the environment and the local population.
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6.4 Selection of the preferred regional mechanism for monitoring compliance to a sustainability mechanism
.
Keeping in mind that several options may exist for the selection of a regional compliance mechanism, a regional open-ended expert group meeting, including with governmental participation, will be convened to address this critical issue and propose a way forward.
Background documentation on the various options possible, on the work of the experts group, the sustainability norms, the compilation of useful information on ESM facilities in the region, a regional ULAB datasheet and other related topics will be prepared ahead of the meeting.
Outputs/results: an informed decision on the selection of a regional mechanism for monitoring compliance to sustainability standards, a work-program for the pilot testing of it.
Selection of supply chain participants that will participate in the technical assistance
(demonstration) module.
6.5 Technical assistance program in the supply chains
To facilitate the involvement of key economic actors throughout the supply chain in the region, free technical assistance will be provided upon demand. These actors will be the ones that will have been selected in the previous phase and would include registered local collectors and transporters, importers and smelters. Areas of intervention will include site assessments, training and information sharing on sustainability standards and compliance to them. The training program will aim to promote best operating, occupational hygiene, safety and employment practices. Every assistance will be given to those operations seeking to achieve compliance by providing Models for Benchmarking, additional guidance or a site visit to observe Model Recovery Practices. To maximize the number of ULAB collection center and recycling plant assessments to be undertaken designated Assessors from each participating country will be trained to carry out ESM Assessments using the
Green Lead Assessment Tool.
Outputs/results: a List of operations in the LAB/ULAB supply chains in the region trained on the regional sustainability compliance mechanism. Those operators would be considered as complying with the sustainability norms and form the first list of ‘certified sustainable ULAB operators in the region’..
6.6 Consultations with governments and delivery of policy advice.
Bilateral consultations will be held with every one of the participating countries. Upon request, national polices, legislation and enforcement procedures, as well as accompanying measures for job transformation in the informal sector will be scrutinized to ensure that they promote ESM through the proposed regional approach, work towards the elimination of any
ULAB recycling in the “informal” sector, directing those involved in environmentally damaging activities towards “formalized” ULAB collection and transportation to approved
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environmentally sound ULAB recycling plants.
Outputs/results: All sectors of governmental intervention trained and advised on the development of sustainable policies for the management of ULAB.
6.7 Technical assistance to selected local operators in the informal sector.
Specific training and assistance activities will be conducted in each participating country with the assistance of local stakeholders, including social actors. The training program will aim to promote best operating, occupational hygiene and safety practices. Particular attention will be given to these accompanying measures for job transformation and the strengthening of sustainable practices in the local collection and transport of ULAB to national collectors and recycling plants.
Outputs/results: raised awareness on hazards associated to the recycling of ULAB in the informal sector, operators aware and trained on alternative and sustainable practices.
6.8 Set up a regional register of ESM certified facilities, operations and information sharing module.
A regional registry of ULAB Collection Centers, Transport/Shipping Companies and Lead
Smelters Assessed to be environmentally sound will be set up and made available in the
Public Domain as a guide to regulators and the general public as to where and how ULAB should be recovered to ensure ESM. Information about those systems, mechanisms and facilities in the Asian Region will be documented and made available to all participating countries in the appropriate National Language as Models for other players in the life cycle to use as “Benchmarks” for ESM. The translation into the appropriate native languages of the BTG for the ESM of ULAB, the Basel Training Manual for the development of National
Action Plans for the ESM of ULAB, the Green Lead ESM Assessment Tool and Manual,
Best Practice notes for safe and sustainable operations will be a priority of the Project. The demonstration model requires that measures are introduced to raise the level of public awareness and the threats posed by the improper recovery of ULAB. In this respect the
National Universities working in conjunction with the Ministries of Health and the
Environment, and the Lead Industry can prepare and distribute information leaflets and pamphlets for communities, LAB users and anyone likely to come into contact with ULAB.
Outputs/results: a regional register of ESM ‘certified’ facilities and a procedures for maintenance agreed upon.
6.9 Final regional meeting
A closing regional meeting will be held to present to a wider audience, including social partners, NGOs, the results of this pilot project, review lessons learnt, and make recommendations for the further expansion of the regional sustainability compliance mechanism.
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7. Outcomes and Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of the project activities include:

Policy makers in the six participating countries because they will have access to a data base of environmentally sound ULAB collection center, transport companies and recyclers.

Policy makers will also be able to consider a number of schemes that provide financial incentive based mechanisms designed to maximize the return of ULAB to the Formal Sector.

Populations living close to ULAB recycling plants will have access to information about emissions and discharges from the plants.

The informal sector will be given every opportunity to work with the Formal
Sector and eliminate environmentally unsound and unsafe working practices.
This will create “Green Jobs” as exposure to the hazards associated with informal ULAB recovery is eliminated.

Many of those involved in the recovery of ULAB will not only be able to
Benchmark their environmental performance, but the methods and practices required to achieve best industry practices and ESM will be available in their native language for the first time.

The work in the six participating countries will provide a sound basis for the development of a Regional Strategy for the ESM of ULAB

At the end of the Project a two Regional conference will be convened to explain the outcomes to the Asian National with a view to all the countries in the Region adopting the appropriate Models to develop their own NAP to manage ULAB.
8. Success and Verification of the Project Objectives and Outcomes
Success and verification of the Project will be based on the following criteria:
 the relevant information collected, collated, analyzed and submitted from each participating country and company that provide Models for the ESM of ULAB throughout the life cycle of the LAB

Pro active measures taken at the national and the regional levels to promote the sound management of ULAB and the improvement in occupational health in the lead recycling sectors, in particular the informal sector through the introduction of public awareness campaigns or economic instruments to maximize ULAB recovery in the Formal Sector.

The development of national programs for the environmentally sound and economically viable collection and recovery of ULAB based on the Register of ULAB collection centers, transporters and recyclers assessed to the environmentally sound and in compliance with the BTG.

The degree that an ESM information exchange is established on a national and international level that facilitates a network between Governments, the BCRC, the ILO
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and Industry and other specialized agencies, such as the ILMC.

The extent that ULAB collection centers, transporters and recyclers that were out of compliance with the BTG at the start of the Project are Assessed as environmentally sound and in compliance with the BTG at the end of the Project.

How many Governments amend their procedures for monitoring the management of
ULAB throughout the life cycle in order to eliminate the adverse activities of the
“informal sector” and promote the “formalization” of ULAB recovery.
8 Project Duration and Budget
30 months
Total Budget: US$ 2,025,000
Total budget required: US$ 1,755,000.
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