Development of Minamata Convention Initial Assessments
Management of Mercury Wastes (cont'd)
Beyond the Hazardous Waste Inventory: Mercury wastes are also
exported by generators and local waste handlers under the Basel
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Waste and their Disposal.
• The types of mercury wastes which have been exported to date are
waste electrical and electronic equipment (e-waste) and spent
adsorbent from the oil and gas industry.
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The e-waste comprises mainly computers and I.T. equipment from
administrative and technical functions in the public and private sectors.
The adsorbent material from mercury removal beds is a desiccant used
to remove moisture from feed gas to prevent downstream corrosion.
The spent adsorbent may contain trace to non-detectable quantities of
mercury.
• The e-waste is exported for recycling while the spent adsorbent is
exported for recovery of mercury.
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