Practical Sourcebook on Mercury Waste Storage and Disposal

This sourcebook provides practical guidance on the environmentally sound storage and disposal of mercury wastes to strengthen the capacity of governments, industry and other stakeholders responsible for mercury waste management. It explains the characteristics, sources and classification of mercury wastes, outlines inventories and regulatory considerations, and describes approaches for collection, transport, storage, treatment, recovery, recycling and final disposal. The document presents commercially available technologies, operational practices and case studies from multiple countries, while addressing traceability, risk management and legal frameworks, including the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Basel Convention. It concludes by identifying key implementation steps, management options and institutional measures needed to support environmentally sound mercury waste management.