Basel Convention

Framework for Control

The Convention has set up a framework to control the “transboundary” movement of hazardous waste (hazardous waste can be toxic, poisonous, explosive, corrosive, flammable, ecotoxic, and infectious) across international frontiers with the aim of protecting human health and the environment by minimizing hazardous waste production whenever possible by using environmentally sound management techniques. This recognizes that a long-term solution to the stockpiling of hazardous wastes is a reduction in the generation of these wastes, both in terms of quantity and hazardousness. This means addressing the issue through an “integrated life-cycle approach,” which involves strong controls from the generation of hazardous waste to its storage, transport, treatment, reuse, recycling, recovery, and final disposal—keeping track of it from cradle to grave.

The main goals of the Basel Convention are to ensure that generation of hazardous waste is reduced to a minimum; to ensure that as much hazardous waste as is possible is disposed of within the country of their generation; to establish enhanced controls on exports and imports of hazardous waste; to prohibit transportation/shipments of hazardous wastes to countries lacking the legal, administrative and technical capacity to manage and dispose of them in an environmentally sound manner; to cooperate on the exchange of information and technology transfer; and to work toward the harmonization of standards, codes, and guidelines.

These objectives can be achieved through factors such as active promotion and use of cleaner technologies and production methods; further reduction of transportation of hazardous wastes; prevention and monitoring of illegal traffic of hazardous waste; improvement of institutional and technical capabilities; helping to build up the capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to deal with hazardous waste more effectively; and further development of regional and sub-regional centers for training and technology transfer.

The Basel Convention was adopted in 1989, but it did not come into force until May 5, 1992, when the Convention was ratified by 20 countries. As of February 2004, 158 countries had ratified the Basel Convention. Nations that have ratified the Convention are allowed to ship hazardous wastes to and from countries who are parties to the Convention, but not to countries or through countries that have not ratified it. The Convention permits an exception to this requirement if a separate bilateral agreement covers relations with a given trading partner that is not a party to the Convention. Article 11 of the Basel Convention allows parties to the Convention to develop such a bilateral agreement as long as the agreement reflects the environmentally sound management practices of wastes.

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