The researcher will lead on expanding the mercury inventory for Ireland, with a focus on mercury added products (MAPs), their replacement products, and resultant waste in the built environment. Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is the fastest growing product stream globally. Overlap exists between waste EEE (WEEE) and MAPs. Both MAPs and WEEE contain critical raw materials (CRMs) and new EEE requires additional CRM input. Substitutions in one area may incur rebound effects in primary production areas. The objective of this research is to (i) develop and scale a mercury metabolism inventory for Ireland using UNEP models and emission inventories, (ii) identify potential correlations between mercury emissions inventories and other emissions inventories and accounting mechanisms, and (iii) identify new areas of research. This will provide policy makers and the scientific community with a clearer assessment of mercury footprints and will assist in global efforts towards mercury reduction protocols and associated supports.
€52,715 - €57,332 p.a. pro rata