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Analysis |

EU promotes recycling toxic chemicals into new products

The EU has pushed dangerous cleanup standards for three toxic flame retardant chemicals widely used in building insulation, upholstery and electronics (HBCD, PentaBDE, and OctaBDE) at a UN meeting of chemicals treaties in Geneva, Switzerland.

All three toxic chemicals are listed in the Stockholm Convention for global elimination. They are ubiquitous in the environment globally and can disrupt human hormone systems, creating potential adverse effects on the development of the nervous system and children's IQ. African countries expressed deep concern regarding the EU proposal to recycle products containing toxic flame retardants into new products such as children's toys, food containers and soft furnishings. "We do not want toxic chemicals recycled into toys for African children and we do not think EU children should be playing with them either," said Tadesse Amera, PAN Ethiopia. "The EU already sends us ewaste and now it seems they want to increase our toxic burden." The EU proposal will allow toxic recycled products to be used by EU consumers and, later on exported to developing countries as waste. Ironically, the waste cleanup limit for PCBs and other substances already listed in the treaty is 20 times safer than the current EU proposal for flame retardants, despite the fact that they are all similarly toxic. Expert advisors to the EU noted that under the EU proposal, none of the current PentaBDE wastes would qualify for cleanup. Jindrich Petrlik from Arnika Association said, "As an EU-based public interest NGO we find it shameful to see the EU violating the integrity of the Stockholm Convention, and putting economic interests before human health and the environment. This is poisoning the circular economy."

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March 28 2024 10:16 am V22.4.20-2
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