Basel Convention on the Control of

Transboundary Movement of
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

Brief background
The Convention
Implementation actors
The CP linkage
Case study
1
Basel Convention (1989)
 A global legal instrument on the control
of transboundary movement of
hazardous wastes and their disposal
 Brief background:
– late 80’s: tightening of environmental
legislation in industrialized countries led to a
rise in the cost of hazardous waste disposal
– search for cheaper disposal of waste
resulted in shipment of hazardous waste to
developing countries and Eastern Europe
– international concern  Basel Convention
Basel Convention Objectives

 Reduce transboundary movement of

hazardous wastes
 Minimise the creation of such wastes
 Prohibit their shipment to countries
lacking the capacity to dispose of
hazardous waste in an environmentally-
sound manner
Basel Convention:
The First Decade (1989-1999)
 Framework for controlling
transboundary movements of hazardous
wastes
 Control system (based on prior written
notification)
 Developed criteria for “environmentally
sound management (ESM)”
Environmentally Sound
Management (ESM)
 “...taking of all practicable steps to ensure
that hazardous wastes or other wastes are
managed in a manner, which will protect
human health and the environment against
the adverse effects, which may result from
such wastes.”
 Key principles: Prevention and minimisation of
generation of wastes ( = CP mandate)
 Requires capacity building, policy reforms and
promotion and use of cleaner technologies
and production methods
Basel Convention Affiliated
Instruments
 Amendment on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and their Disposal (“Basel Ban”)
– Objective: ban exports of hazardous wastes for final
disposal, recovery, or recycling from States listed in
Annex VII (mainly OECD countries) to States not
listed in Annex VII (mainly non-OECD countries)
– 62 ratification needed to enter into force, 41 ratified
as of Oct 2003 (incl. Sri Lanka, Romania, Trinidad)
– Main argument for disagreement from opposing
countries (such as Australia, USA, Canada): GATT-
inconsistent and trade-disruptive
Basel Convention Affiliated
Instruments (cont’d)
 Basel Protocol on Liability and
Compensation for Damage Resulting from
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and their Disposal
– Objective: provide for a comprehensive regime for
liability as well as adequate and prompt
compensation for damage resulting from the
transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
and other wastes, including incidents occurring
because of illegal traffic
– 20 ratifications needed to enter into force; 14 as
of Oct 2003
Basel Convention Affiliated
Instruments
 The Basel Ministerial Declaration on
Environmentally Sound Management of
Hazardous Wastes
– Adopted at COP-5 (Dec 1999)
– Outlines main areas of focus during the next
decade
The Basel Convention:
Next Decade (2000-2010) Priorities
 Partnerships to increase co-operation and
strategic alliances
 Environmentally sound management and active
promotion and use of cleaner technologies and
production methods
 Further reduction of the movement of
hazardous and other wastes
 Prevention and monitoring of illegal traffic
 Improvement of institutional and technical
capabilities - - especially for developing and EIT
countries
 Further development of regional and subregional
centres for training and technology transfer
Implementation Actors
 Conference of the Parties (COP)
 Expanded bureau
 Working groups
 The Secretariat
 The Committee on Partnership with
industry
 Basel Convention Regional Centers
(BCRCs)
 National competent authority and
focal points
Basel Convention Regional
Centers (BCRCs)
 Regional Centres for Training and Technology
Transfer
 Provide guidance on technical, technological
issues, legal issues as well as advice on
enforcement aspects of the Basel Convention
and related Conventions like Stockholm,
Rotterdam and Montreal Protocol.
 Encourage the introduction of CP technologies
 Encourage the use of environmentally sound
management practices
 Enhancement of information exchange,
education and awareness-raising
Basel Convention Regional
Centers (BCRCs)

Russian Federation

Slovak Republic
China

India

Senegal Egypt

El Salvador

Trinidad &
Tobago Nigeria

Indonesia

Uruguay
South Africa
Argentina
The CP Linkage
Cleaner Production practitioners can:
 help create links from the Convention to

private sector
 invite the Basel Convention implementation

actors (BCRCs) to participate in the existing

Cleaner Production partnerships
 assist in creating multi-stakeholder

dialogue
 promote UNEP Cleaner Production

Declaration as a way to strengthen

commitments
The CP Linkage:
Capacity Building and ESM
Cleaner Production practitioners can:
 Promote existing relevant Cleaner Production

guidelines and manuals for tackling priority waste

streams. Develop new materials tailored to the
needs of the Convention
 Offer knowledge of the information sources on ESM

for the relevant waste streams

 Conduct demonstration projects for ESM in your

countries in the priority waste generating sectors

 Conduct training on ESM tailored to local conditions

 Provide technical assistance services

 Provide policy advice and lobby for Cleaner

Production policies and legislation in your country

Explore Opportunities
 What are your country’s obligations under the
Convention?
 What are the priority waste streams and
industry sectors?
 What kind of expertise/services do you have
to offer in regard to implementing priorities?
 What kind of necessary expertise/services you
can obtain from the CPCs and international
Cleaner Production network?
 What kind of financial assistance can be
accessed to qualify for to implement projects
under the Convention?
Develop Action Plan
 Collect information
 Define competitive advantages
– experience of work in the priority sectors, existence
of developed methodologies for addressing the
priority waste streams, successful training
initiatives, trust of the main industry actors,etc.
 Organise meetings/seminars/workshops
– co-ordinate with the Convention implementation
bodies to exchange information and experiences
 Develop joint projects and training
programs
– relate to national priorities under the Convention
 Explore funding opportunities
– obtain financing
CP and Basel

 Strengthen link between

the private sector and the
Convention
 Include Basel
implementation actors in
CP partnerships
 Joint training on
environmentally sound
management
 Join forces in
implementation projects
 Cooperation in national
reporting