In the late 1980s, a tightening of environmental regulations in industrialized countries led to a dramatic rise in the cost of hazardous waste disposal. Searching for cheaper ways to get rid of the wastes, “toxic traders” began shipping hazardous waste to developing countries and to eastern Europe. When this activity was revealed, international outrage led to the drafting and adoption of the Basel Convention.
During its first decade (1989-1999), the Convention was principally devoted to setting up a framework for controlling the “transboundary” movements of hazardous wastes, that is, the movement of hazardous wastes across international frontiers. It also developed the criteria for “environmentally sound management.” A control system, based on prior written notification, was also put into place.
In this decade (2000-2010), the Convention is building on this framework by emphasizing full implementation and enforcement of treaty commitments. The other area of focus is the minimization of hazardous waste generation. Recognizing that the long-term solution to the stockpiling of hazardous wastes is a reduction in the generation of those wastes - both in terms of quantity and degree of hazard - ministers meeting in December of 1999 set out guidelines for the Convention’s activities during the next decade, including:
A central goal of the Basel Convention is Environmentally Sound Management (ESM). The aim of ESM is to protect human health and the environment by minimizing hazardous waste production whenever possible. ESM means addressing the issue through an “integrated life-cycle approach,” which involves strong controls from the generation of a hazardous waste to its storage, transport, treatment, reuse, recycling, recovery and final disposal.
Many companies have already demonstrated that “cleaner production” methods, which eliminate or reduce hazardous outputs, can be both economically and environmentally efficient. The United Nations Environment Program’s (UNEP) Division on Technology, Industry and Economics works to identify and disseminate “best practices” www.unepie.org/.
In the coming decade, more emphasis will be placed on creating partnerships between industry and research institutions to create innovative approaches to ESM. One of the most critical aspects of ESM is lowering demand for products and services that result in hazardous by-products. Consumers need to educate themselves about the methods used in production processes and think about what they buy every day. For more information on “greener” procurement strategies. For more information, see Green Electronics.
The Basel Convention contains specific provisions for monitoring implementation and compliance. A number of articles in the Convention oblige Parties (national governments which have acceded to the Convention) to take appropriate measures to implement and enforce its provisions, including measures to prevent and punish conduct in contravention of the Convention.
Because hazardous wastes pose substantial threat to human health and to the environment, one of the guiding principles of the Basel Convention is that hazardous wastes should be dealt with as close as possible to where they are produced. Therefore, under the Convention, transboundary movements of hazardous wastes can take place only upon prior written notification by the state of export to the competent authorities of the states of import and transit (if appropriate). Each shipment must be accompanied by a movement document from the point at which a transboundary movement begins to the point of disposal. Hazardous waste shipments made without such documents are illegal. In addition, there are outright bans on the export of these wastes to certain countries. Transboundary movements can take place, however, if the state of export does not have the capability of managing or disposing of the hazardous waste in an environmentally sound manner.
Each country that is a party to the Convention is required to report information on the generation and movement of hazardous wastes. Every year, a questionnaire is sent out to member countries, requesting information on the generation, export and import of hazardous wastes covered by the Convention. This information is reviewed and compiled by the Secretariat and is presented in an annual report, which includes statistical tables and graphic representations of the data. These documents are available at www.basel.int/.
Basel Convention is under the United Nations Environment Program. Over 130 countries are a party to the Basel Convention. However, the U.S. is not a party, and in order to become a party, federal legislation is needed.
Basel Partnership Initiative
Basel Mobile Phone Initiative
As stated above, developing countries that are party to the Basel Convention are prohibited from accepting hazardous waste, including computer monitors and television sets, without proper documentation and tracking. However, it is common that customs officials in importing countries simply ignore the rules in place and accept the material.
Recently, there has been increased enforcement of the convention and increased regulation in some developing countries. For instance, in November 2004, as reported by the publication the China Daily and picked up by the Associated Press, China began banning all imports of used television sets and other electronic scrap in a bid to clean up its environment, complaining that the United States, Japan, and others are using it as a dumping ground.
China has a thriving industry in recycling televisions, computer parts, and other electronic scrap. Much of the work is done by hand with few health and safety precautions, and material that is not recycled is dumped or burned, releasing toxic chemicals into the ground and air. The new regulation includes a list of banned goods - mostly electronics - and tighter restrictions on how to handle imports that still are permitted.
The China Daily suggested that if the new regulation is correctly observed, the long-term effects should be an industry which recycles a better quality of spares (second-hand parts) and a better-protected environment.
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Program of the Indiana
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