North Sea Conservation Conference Strengthens Waste Disposal Regulations - August 1995

North Sea Conservation Conference Strengthens Waste Disposal Regulations - August 1995

In 1995, the North Sea Conservation Conference reached an agreement to completely ban the disposal of hazardous waste into the North Sea by 2020. This agreement aims to significantly reduce the approximately 10000 tons of toxic waste currently being dumped annually into the North Sea. Targeted waste includes heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and highly toxic chemical substances like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins, which have severe adverse effects on marine ecosystems, particularly burdening fishery resources.

Countries along the North Sea, including France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, are committed to reducing waste disposal in stages by 2020, ultimately reaching zero disposal. However, the UK, under pressure from major chemical companies such as ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) and Union Carbide, as well as pharmaceutical companies, declined to sign this agreement for a complete halt to disposal. Consequently, the UK may continue to dispose of approximately 2000 tons of waste annually in the North Sea.

This agreement is expected to significantly improve water quality in the North Sea. France and Germany have announced plans to allocate 500 million euros (about 650 billion yen) to establish recycling facilities for waste. Additionally, the Norwegian government plans to invest 10 million euros (about 1.3 billion yen) annually in waste treatment technology development, aiming to reach zero marine disposal.

These efforts to protect the North Sea are anticipated to have positive impacts on the preservation of fishery resources and tourism. At the same time, the chemical industry faces the challenge of transitioning to sustainable operations, including waste recycling and safe treatment processes.