Eliminating Persistent Organic Pollutants from the Environment

Summary

230 tonnes of Persistent Organic Pollutants eliminated at the stockpile in Ialguja. April 2014. Photo: Vladimer Valishvili/UNDP na

After signing the Stockholm Convention in 2001 and ratifying it five years later, Georgia has accepted an obligation to limit the release of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and eliminate the waste that contains these harmful chemical substances. POPs are resistant to biodegradation and can easily bio-accumulate. They are transported through air and water across international boundaries. POPs pose a significant risk to human health and the environment. In Georgia, the stockpiles of POPs pesticide are still present in the warehouses previously owned by the state organizations and collective farms.

What We Do

With funds from the Global Environment Facility, UNDP assists the government in meeting the obligations under the Stockholm Convention. Our support seeks to minimize the release of POPs from the pesticide stockpiles; improve the legislation; and build national capacities in the POPs disposal management.

Expected Results

Enhanced legal and administrative capacity for POPs related hazardous waste management;
Minimized releases from the obsolete pesticide dump;
230 tons of POPs pesticides exported abroad and incinerated in an environmentally sound manner.

Who finances it

Total Budget	US$ 1,150,000
UNDP	US$ 150,000
GEF	US$ 1,000,000

Delivery

2013	US$ 189,256.8
2012	US$ 183,327.9
2011	US$ 28,714.02

Overview

Status:: Ongoing
Start Date:: November 2011
End Date:: December 2014
Geographic Coverage:: National
Partners:: Global Environment Facility, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Georgia, Local Municipalities