In May 2023, ecoSPEARS was asked to present its methodology at the COPS 2023, the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (commonly known as the Stockholm Convention).
The presentation was organized by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) and was recorded by the Geneva Environment Network. It was presented as part of a special session on alternative technologies to eliminate PCBs.
A full recording of this 90-minute session, with all panel speakers, was published after the event here:
The ecoSPEARS presentation stars at minute 36:00.
Here are the top 10 takeaways from this session:
- PCB elimination needs to be faster. Only 17% of PCB waste has been destroyed, leaving 83% or 14 million tons remaining.
- Non-combustion tech offers a promising alternative to incineration. It avoids harmful byproducts and allows on-site treatment, reducing transport risks.
- IPEN, an independent NGO network, promotes non-combustion technology and its inclusion in the Stockholm Convention for global PCB elimination by 2028.
- EcoSPEARS, a non-combustion technology, destroy POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) and is especially effective for contaminated soil and sediments.
- EcoSPEARS was founded in 2018 with the goal of eliminating forever chemicals by cleaning soil and water without sacrificing clean air.
- Their technologies were born out of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and focus on sustainable, green technology.
- Ecospears’ primary technology destroys PCBs, dioxins, and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) without creating new pollutants.
- Ecospears believes that the future of decontamination lies in localized and regionalized settings, rather than transporting POPs waste to other countries.
- The presenters emphasized considering the full cost of PCB contamination, including environmental and community impacts. Non-combustion tech can help reduce these costs by offering a cleaner and more sustainable solution.
- The presenters encouraged the audience to learn more about non-combustion technologies and explore their potential applications in their own countries. They believe these technologies can play a key role in solving the global PCB problem