ULABS in MERCOSUR Countries

Launched in 2023 with initial funding from the Pure Earth Strategic Policy Fund, this project builds upon earlier GAHP initiatives to tackle lead pollution and the informal management of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) in Latin America. In 2024, additional support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection enabled further progress in addressing this critical issue.

The Issue

ULABs are classified as hazardous waste, but regulatory barriers on transboundary movement prevent some countries from accessing nearby recycling centers. This has fueled informal management and illegal trafficking of ULABs across MERCOSUR countries, despite the presence of formal recycling facilities. While accurately quantifying lead-related health impacts, especially for children, is challenging, a significant share is clearly linked to environmental pollution from informal ULAB handling.

The MERCOSUR Region

Project Objectives

The goal of this project is to reduce the informal management of ULABs by leveraging locally available capacities within the region (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay).

Initial Outcomes

• In the first stage of the activities, GAHP prepared an instrument (mass balance of lead and ULABs), which allowed the problem in the four countries to be analyzed. The results showed that informal management of ULABs and illegal trafficking in these countries were significant issues, contributing to environmental pollution and lead toxic exposure (affecting workers, their families, and the general community).
• The mass balance elaborated by GAHP and shared with the governments is an important tool to position the problem in environmental agendas at the national level. Lead pollution and ULABs are now recognized in the agendas of the Ministers of Environment at the Latin American level and in the agenda of the SGT6 on Environment of MERCOSUR.
• In 2024, GAHP was officially mandated by MERCOSUR countries to lead multi-sectoral dialogues with public and private stakeholders, aiming to develop effective solutions to address this challenge.

The MERCOSUR Region

The MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) region includes the following full members:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Paraguay
• Uruguay

These countries collaborate on economic, trade, and environmental initiatives within the MERCOSUR framework.