The Basel Convention is an international treaty designed to regulate the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and ensure their environmentally sound management and disposal. It was adopted on March 22, 1989, in Basel, Switzerland, and entered into force on May 5, 1992. The convention addresses the global challenge of hazardous waste management by promoting sustainable practices and preventing the dumping of hazardous wastes in developing countries with less stringent environmental regulations.
Background:
In the 1980s, there were increasing concerns about the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes, where developed countries were exporting their hazardous wastes to developing countries without adequate controls. This practice resulted in environmental and health hazards in the receiving countries. To address this issue, the Basel Convention was negotiated under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to establish an international framework for the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes.
Key Objectives:
The Basel Convention has three main objectives:
- Environmentally Sound Management: The primary objective of the convention is to ensure the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes at their place of generation and during their movement, including minimization, recycling, and disposal.
- Control of Transboundary Movements: The convention aims to control and reduce the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, particularly from developed to developing countries, to prevent dumping and its associated environmental and health impacts.
- Minimization and Disposal of Hazardous Wastes: The Basel Convention promotes the minimization of hazardous wastes through source reduction and recycling, as well as the establishment of adequate disposal facilities for hazardous wastes that cannot be managed in an environmentally friendly manner.
Key Provisions:
- Scope of Hazardous Wastes: The Basel Convention defines hazardous wastes and categorizes them into two main lists: List A, consisting of wastes that are hazardous and must be controlled and managed, and List B, comprising other wastes that may also require special consideration.
- Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure: The convention introduces the Prior Informed Consent procedure for transboundary movements of hazardous wastes. Before any shipment of hazardous wastes takes place, the exporting country must obtain the consent of the importing country. The importing country can accept or refuse the waste shipment based on its capacity to manage the waste properly.
- Environmentally Sound Management (ESM): The Basel Convention emphasizes the need for the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, promoting waste reduction, recycling, and proper disposal.
- Ban on Export of Hazardous Wastes to Non-Parties: The convention prohibits the export of hazardous wastes to countries that are not party to the Basel Convention.
- Control System for Shipments: The Basel Convention establishes a tracking and control system for hazardous waste shipments called the “movement document” to monitor and record the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.
- Technical Assistance and Capacity Building: The convention provides for technical assistance and capacity-building support to help developing countries improve their hazardous waste management infrastructure and capabilities.
Conference of the Parties (COP):
The Conference of the Parties is the decision-making body of the Basel Convention, and it meets regularly to review progress, adopt guidelines and protocols, and make decisions on matters related to the convention’s implementation.
Achievements and Challenges:
The Basel Convention has made significant strides in raising awareness about the importance of environmentally sound hazardous waste management and in controlling the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes. It has contributed to reducing the dumping of hazardous wastes in developing countries and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
However, challenges remain, including ensuring effective enforcement of the convention’s provisions, enhancing waste management capacities in developing countries, and addressing emerging waste management issues, such as electronic waste (e-waste) and plastic waste.
Conclusion:
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal plays a critical role in global efforts to protect human health and the environment from the risks posed by hazardous wastes. By promoting environmentally sound waste management practices and regulating the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes, the convention contributes to a safer and more sustainable world. Continued international cooperation, capacity-building, and innovation will be essential to effectively address the challenges posed by hazardous waste management and ensure the convention’s objectives are met.