Progress report for
Innovative management solutions for minimizing emissions of hazardous substances from urban areas in the Baltic Sea Region
Achievement at a glance
The commitment describes a work that was performed within the Interregproject with the same name (acronym: NonHazCity). In all municipalities, communication activities have been conducted, aiming at reducing the use and release of harmful substances to the environment from their own entities, from enterprises and households. In the municipalities several initiatives have been taken to impose procurement requirements on content in goods and chemical products. Many municipalities have focussed on childrens everyday environments. The harmful substances, in addition to affecting life in the ocean environment, can lead to health-related impacts in environments where they are used, and children are particularly sensitive. We have also raised the awareness among companies and residents through different campaigns. Chemical analyses have been carried out on wastewater, stormwater, goods and indoor dust from preschools and households. The results have been compiled in reports. A result of these campaigns is that awareness of the harmful substances has increased in the municipalities. Politicians, national and European authorities and the media have been made aware of these issues. In January 2019 a final conference was held in Riga, LV with almost 100 participants, of which approximately half were external. Project members have also participated in a number of international and national events where the need to address issues related to hazardous substances in everyday life has been stressed. The general conclusions of the project are summarized in the report NonHazCity a flagship project of the Baltic Sea Region, which can be found on the project website. In September 2019 an extension project, NonHazCity2 was launched with the aim to implement the action plans that were produced within the original project. The City of Riga has taken over as lead partner. More information and all reports can be found on www.nonhazcity.euBeneficiaries
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