Storing and Disposing Excess Mercury in South America: Advancing National Initiatives in Argentina and Uruguay

This report presents the results of the “Mercury Storage and Disposal Two Countries Project in Latin America,” detailing the development of national strategies for the environmentally sound management of elemental mercury and mercury-containing waste in Argentina and Uruguay. Implemented by UNEP Chemicals and guided by the IKIMP framework, the project evaluated 4 hazardous waste facilities in Argentina—three in Buenos Aires and one in Córdoba—for temporary mercury storage, with two authorized to conduct sulphur-based stabilization. Uruguay identified 2 key sites: the Efice chlor-alkali plant and a planned hazardous waste landfill in Montevideo. The report reviews 19 national regulatory instruments in Argentina and 25 in Uruguay, noting gaps in mercury-specific legislation. Each country developed a draft National Action Plan, outlining activities such as source inventories, technology assessments, and regulatory reforms. The study emphasizes regulatory inconsistencies, lack of retorting capacity, and the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades. Lessons learned aim to support replication in other GRULAC countries.