Materials

The “Materials” section contains resources related to the project, including thematic factsheets and project methodology, overview of project reports and recommendations.

Project Outcome Webinar

The webinar was held on October 29, 2025 showcasing the main results of work conducted between May 2024 and October 2025 across five countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The webinar agenda included the following key presentations:

1.Opening of the seminar and introduction of participants

2.Presentation of the project ““Outreach and awareness-raising on prevention, minimization, and recycling options for plastic waste in countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia with the goal to reduce plastic pollution and minimize its impact on the environment and human health”.

Olga Speranskaya, Alexandra Caterbow, Co-Directors of HEJSupport, Project Managers

3. Project importance for EECCA countries

Mr.Umarjon Abdulaev, chief specialist, Department of Public-Private Partnership and Solid Waste Management, Ministry of Ecology, Environment and Climate Change, Uzbekistan

4.Presentation of the main results of the project in the participating countries

• Islam Mustafayev, Head of the Ruzgar Environmental Society, Azerbaijan
• Gohar Khojayyan, Expert, Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment NGO, Armenia
• Gia Sopadze, Scientific Director of the NGO Union for Sustainable Development “Ecovision”, Georgia
• Zhanibek Mukhanov, Expert at the Center for Sustainable Development Assistance, Uzbekistan
• Denis Pavlovsky, Director of the NGO “Chemical Safety Agency”, Ukraine

5. Negotiations on the plastics agreement: global challenges and the contribution of the “Plastics in WECCA Countries” project to overcoming differences

Olga Speranskaya, Alexandra Caterbow, Co-Directors, HEJSupport

General discussion

Representatives from ministries and agencies of Armenia, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, along with members of public organizations, participated in the discussion, emphasizing the project’s significance for the entire EECCA region. The webinar participants thanked HEJSupport for successfully managing such a complex project, highlighting the importance of implementing similar activities in other EECCA countries using the methodology developed in the current project. 

TECHNICAL GUIDELINES ON THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF PLASTIC WASTES

The new Basel Convention technical guidelines reveal a troubling truth: most plastics are not pure polymers but complex chemical mixtures. To achieve flexibility, durability, or colour, manufacturers routinely add plasticizers, flame retardants, stabilizers, UV filters, and pigments — many of which are hazardous to human health and the environment.

Persistent and bioaccumulative substances such as brominated flame retardants, PFAS, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, and lead-based stabilizers continue to be detected in plastic products and waste streams. These chemicals can leach, migrate, and be released throughout the entire plastic life cycle—from production to disposal—making recycling unsafe and contributing to ongoing global pollution.

The Basel guidelines advocate for greater chemical transparency, the phase-out of toxic additives, and the prevention of hazardous waste generation. Achieving truly safe circularity involves addressing not only plastic waste but also the toxic chemicals integrated within. See paragraph 6. Typical additives and processing aids, pages 13-16.

In March 2025, HEJSupport organized a regional meeting to present the project clearinghouse website as the regional “one-stop shop” for information and action on plastic pollution, bridging the gap between science, policy, and practice. All Project partners presented information from the national pages allocated on the website.