Unintentional POPs guidance documents

Guidelines on best available techniques and provisional guidance on best environmental practices relevant to Article 5 and Annex C of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

The Guidelines on best available techniques and guidance on best environmental practices relevant to Article 5 and Annex C of the Stockholm Convention provide the necessary guidance to Parties to minimize their releases of POPs from unintentional production referred in paragraph c) of Article 5 of the Convention for the main identified processes and technologies.

Specific sections of the guidance are updated periodically to include the most up-to-date information on specific sources categories and processes releasing unintentional POPs.

In accordance with the workplan for the review and updating of the guidelines and guidance BAT and BEP agreed to at the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the following two sections of the guidelines/guidance have been updated with the support of the expert roster and taking into account comments received from Parties, observers, and other relevant experts:

  • Section V.C Production of pulp using elemental chlorine or chemicals generating elemental chlorine
  • Section VI.F Specific chemical production processes releasing chemicals listed in Annex C

Both updated draft sections, dated March 2025, are available here for consideration by the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

 

ChapterYear of updateSection titleDownload
Items: 19  Files: 38
 2007TABLE OF CONTENTS135.5 K67.39 K
I.IV2021INTRODUCTION620 K965.28 K
V.A2021WASTE INCINERATORS1.38 MB1.33 MB
V.B2021CEMENT KILNS FIRING HAZARDOUS WASTE254.11 K532.83 K
V.C2007 (currently being updated)PRODUCTION OF PULP USING ELEMENTAL CHLORINE OR CHEMICALS GENERATING ELEMENTAL CHLORINE293 K674.25 K
V.D2021THERMAL PROCESSES IN THE METALLURGICAL INDUSTRY751.96 K1012.21 K
VI.A2021OPEN BURNING OF WASTE, INCLUDING BURNING OF LANDFILL SITES51.42 K166.34 K
VI.B2021THERMAL PROCESSES IN THE METALLURGICAL INDUSTRY NOT MENTIONED IN ANNEX C PART II556.53 K938.17 K
VI.C2023RESIDENTIAL COMBUSTION SOURCES82.58 K411.83 K
VI.D2021FOSSIL FUEL-FIRED UTILITY AND INDUSTRIAL BOILERS165.22 K409.89 K
VI.E2021FIRING INSTALLATIONS FOR WOOD AND OTHER BIOMASS FUELS285.23 K596.18 K
VI.F2007 (currently being updated)SPECIFIC CHEMICAL PRODUCTION PROCESSES RELEASING CHEMICALS LISTED IN ANNEX C474.5 K957.79 K
VI.G2007CREMATORIA113.5 K703.68 K
VI.H2007MOTOR VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY THOSE BURNING LEADED GASOLINE93.5 K683.16 K
VI.I2007DESTRUCTION OF ANIMAL CARCASSES139.5 K728.7 K
VI.J2023TEXTILE AND LEATHER DYEING (WITH CHLORANIL) AND FINISHING (WITH ALKALINE EXTRACTION)58.04 K178.86 K
VI.K2023SHREDDER PLANTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF END-OF-LIFE VEHICLES125.68 K398.67 K
VI.L2023SMOULDERING OF COPPER CABLES168.16 K348.39 K
VI.M2021WASTE OIL REFINERIES166.16 K290.21 K

Use of the Guidelines

The guidelines can be used by different audiences that are involved in the implementation of the Stockholm Convention at the national level, such as policy makers, regulatory authorities, engineers, other technical users, other stakeholders and interested parties. It is suggested that users refer to the following sections:

 Audience  Section in Guidance
  Policy makers
  Sections I, II and III
  Regulatory authorities
  Sections I, II, III and IV
  Engineers and other technical users
  Sections III, V and VI
  Other stakeholders and interested parties
  Sections I to VI

Guidance update

Click here for information of guidance sections currently being updated.