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Project title

Screening of the Irish Waste Stream For Persistent Organic Chemicals

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Birmingham

Lead Applicant

Stuart Harrad

Project Abstract

To assist development of waste management approaches maximising polymer recycling while minimising contamination of recyclate with persistent organic chemicals (POCs), SAFER generates a comprehensive database on their concentrations in the Irish waste stream, providing information about which components are contaminated with which POCs and derives estimates of POC masses in the Irish waste stream. Additionally, stemming from the EPA-funded WAFER project, SAFER addresses the concern that although in 2015-16, the incidence of �false exceedances� of low POP concentration limit (LPCL) values for regulated brominated flame retardants (BFRs) identified by portable XRF measurements of bromine was acceptably low; increasing use of non-regulated BFRs will increase �false exceedance� incidence, rendering use of portable XRF to monitor compliance with LPCL values for regulated BFRs less effective. SAFER also evaluates whether data on antimony and bromine concentrations in samples exceeding the LPCL, can reduce the number of false exceedances. We also evaluate the impact of restrictions on already-regulated chemicals on their presence in the Irish waste stream, and provide baseline measurements for other POCs (namely perfluoroalkyl substances, chlorinated organophosphates, and �novel� brominated flame retardants) against which the success of future actions taken to reduce their presence in the waste stream may be evaluated. SAFER will contribute to national capacity-building in Ireland via continuing knowledge transfer between the internationally-leading POPs research group at the University of Birmingham and the National University of Ireland at Galway (NUIG). In particular, it will provide further research training to a newly graduated postdoctoral researcher at NUIG. Both participants have excellent track records of publishing the results of their research (4 papers have emerged thus far from the WAFER project involving the same project team) and SAFER will conform to this trend. We foresee publication of 4 publications in highly-ranked peer-reviewed journals which will all be made available via Institutional Green Open Access repositories. Research findings will also be disseminated to the scientific community via presentations at high-profile national and international conferences - with the participation of the postdoctoral researchers in this forming an important component of their research training.Dissemination to other stakeholders will occur via outreach materials designed for the general public, as well as via a project website and a post-completion dissemination workshop. The EPA will also be provided with technical reports that parallel the peer-reviewed publications.

Grant Approved

�468,130.51

Research Hub

Green and Circular Economy

Research Theme

Resource efficiency

Start Date

01/02/2019

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/01/2022