Chemicals-management

The NonHazCity project has been finalised

Less hazardous chemicals in households, pre-schools and municipalities

– Almost 100 wastewater samples were analysed to define the priority hazardous substances in the municipalities, concluding that traditional pollutants like heavy metals have been successfully managed but organic substances are widely detected – also in residential areas, means from residential uses.

– Almost 50 households were visited by the NonHazCity experts, to look for everyday’s products like cosmetics, toys and household chemicals potentially containing hazardous chemicals: many (hoarded) products found – many unwanted substance – a lot to learn!

– Almost 200 new and used articles from kindergartens like toys, mattresses and creative materials were analysed concluding that approximately half of the old articles should be disposed-off because they contain hazardous substances above the allowed limits.

These figures and other results of the NonHazCity project will be presented at the final conference on 29th, 30th of January in Riga. The detailed agenda can be found here.

18 municipalities and organizations from seven countries (Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany) across the Baltic Sea attempted to minimize the emissions of hazardous substances from non-industrial sources (small businesses and service providers, municipal entities, households) during the three project years.

The municipalities analysed different water sources and defined priority hazardous substances. They elaborated action plans how to reduce the emissions of these substances, initiated emission reduction activities at municipal entities and companies. A lot of efforts were also invested in the awareness raising of residents, showing their contribution to the emissions of hazardous substances and their possibilities to minimize it by making better choices every day.

The project NonHazCity (Innovative Management Solutions for the Minimizing emmissions of the hazardous substances from urban areas in the Baltic Sea Region) was financed by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme.