6 May 2015: The Regional Activity Center for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC) has compiled applications of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for owners and public officials, as part of its collaboration with the PCBs component of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded MedPartnership project for the Environmentally Sound Management of equipment, stocks and wastes containing or contaminated by PCBs in national electricity companies of Mediterranean countries. The SCP/RAC is a Stockholm Convention Regional Center, focusing on cooperation with Mediterranean countries.

PCB uses listed in the compilation include: ceiling tiles; oil-filled cables; small and large capacitors; carbonless paper; concrete admixture; flooring; glue; heat exchangers; hydraulic oil; paint; plastics; sealant for double glazing windows; and transformers. The document is geared toward existing or potential PCB owners of both closed applications (transformers, capacitors, etc.) and open applications (plastics, paints, sealants, flooring, etc.), and public officials responsible for controlling and regulating such substances. It suggests that transformers, capacitors, paint and sealants may account for most PCB consumption.

According to the document, only authorized waste managers should conduct withdrawal and management of waste containing PCBs.

The Stockholm Convention (SC) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), including PCBs, requires Parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment.

The Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (MedPartnership) is a collective effort of environmental institutions and organizations and countries sharing the Mediterranean Sea to address the primary environmental challenges that Mediterranean marine and coastal ecosystems face. The MedPartnership is led by the UN Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) and is financially supported by GEF, the European Commission and other donors. The MedPartnership focuses on priority actions identified by the signatory countries to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention), namely to: reduce land-based sources of marine pollution; and protect biodiversity, living resources and their habitats.

Member countries include: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Montenegro, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. The Palestinian Authority also participates. [SCP/RAC Press Release] [MedPartnership Website]