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LESSON 2 | What are the Plastic Waste Amendments?

This lesson will get you acquainted with the Plastic Waste Amendments, adopted by decision BC-
14/12 in 2019. It explains the implications of the Plastic Waste Amendments, in particular regarding
the classification of plastic waste and related obligations in terms of the prior informed consent (PIC)
procedure.

Moreover, this lesson provides a brief overview of other relevant actions taken by the COP, notably
decision BC-14/13 - also adopted at the 14th meeting in 2019 - pursuant to which, among others,
the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership (PWP) was established.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Explain which types of plastic waste
may or may not be subject to the
PIC procedure, taking into account
national definitions;
2. Identify measures at the national level
to implement the key provisions and
mechanisms of the Basel Convention
to the Plastic Waste Amendments; and
3. Name further actions on plastic waste
taken by the COP and Parties.
Questions are posed throughout the text for you
to check own understanding. The questions are
in various formats, from open (reflection points)
to multiple choice, true/false, ranking, and/or
matching. The answers can be consulted at the
end of the journal.

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WHAT ARE the Plastic Waste Amendments to the Basel Convention?

Following a proposal by Norway in June 2018 ANNEX II

to amend the Basel Convention, the landmark
decision BC-14/12 on the Plastic Waste
Annex II lists categories of wastes requiring
Amendments was unanimously adopted by the
special consideration. The new entry Y48 covers
Parties in May 2019 at the 14th COP to the Basel
all plastic waste, including mixtures of plastic
Convention. The amendments became effective
waste, except for plastic waste that is hazardous
as of 1 January 2021. The amendments aim to
(which falls under Annex VIII) or presumed to
enhance the control of transboundary movement
not be hazardous (which falls under Annex IX).
of plastic waste and clarify the scope of the Basel
Plastic waste contained in Annex II is subject to
Convention as it applies to such waste.
the PIC procedure.
They do not imply a ban on the import, transit or
export of plastic waste, but rather a clarification
of when and how the Convention applies to
ANNEX VIII
such waste. Specifically, the Plastic Waste
Amendments introduced the following new Annex VIII lists wastes that are characterized
categories: as hazardous and therefore subject to the
PIC procedure. The new entry A3210 covers
hazardous plastic waste.

ANNEX IX

Annex IX lists wastes that are not considered

hazardous. The new entry B3011 covers plastic
waste that is not hazardous and therefore
not subject to the PIC procedure, provided
the waste is destined for recycling in an
environmentally sound manner and almost free
from contamination and other types of wastes.

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WHAT BENEFITS can be expected from the Plastic Waste Amendments?

The Amendments are expected to have a range

of positive impacts across the three pillars
of the Basel Convention, which are likely to
manifest gradually, increasing in strength over
time. They can be summarised as follows:

1. Improved control of transboundary

movements

By establishing a clear legally binding framework

for the global trade in plastic waste, the Plastic
Waste Amendments create the conditions for
the global trade in plastic waste to become more
transparent and better regulated to protect
human health and the environment.

2. Increased environmentally sound

management

By ensuring that the provisions on ESM apply

to specified categories of plastic waste, it is
anticipated that the Amendments provide
a powerful incentive to strengthen national
infrastructures for collection, recycling and final
disposal of plastic waste.

3. Increased waste prevention and

minimization

By bringing the listed types of plastic waste

under the provisions relating to waste prevention
and minimization, the Amendments will help
create jobs and economic opportunities, not least
by incentivizing innovation, such as in the design
of alternatives to plastic and in the phasing out
of toxic additives.

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Q1: The amendments aim to enhance the Q3: Match the new entries with the
control of transboundary movement of corresponding Annexes:
plastic waste and clarify the scope of the
1. Y48
Basel Convention as it applies to such waste,
through the ban on the import, transit or 2. A3210
export of plastic waste. 3. B3011
____ True or False?
A. Annex VIII
B. Annex IX
Q2: Match the waste categories with the
corresponding annexes: C. Annex II

1. Mixtures of plastic waste, except

for plastic waste that is hazardous, Q4: What are the expected positive
subject to PIC. impacts across the three pillars of the Basel
Convention, as a result of the implementation
2. Wastes that are characterized as
of the Amendments?
hazardous and therefore subject to
the PIC procedure. □ Improved control of transboundary movements
3. Wastes that are not considered □ Increased environmentally sound management
hazardous and not subject to the PIC
□ Increased export of plastic waste
procedure.
□ Increased waste prevention and minimization
A. ANNEX IX
B. ANNEX II
C. ANNEX VIII

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WHAT FURTHER actions to address plastic waste were adopted by the COP?

In addition to the Plastic Waste Amendments,

the COP:

▪ Decided to consider, via the Open-ended

Working Group, whether, how and when
the COP should assess the effectiveness of
the measures taken under the Convention
to address plastic waste and which further
activities could possibly be conducted
under the Convention;

▪ Requested the expert working group

on the review of Annexes to consider
whether any additional constituents or
characteristics in relation to plastic waste
should be added to Annex I or III to the
Convention;

▪ Decided to update the technical guidelines

for the identification and environmentally
sound management of plastic waste
and for their disposal (more in lesson 5,
Module 2); and

▪ Welcomed the proposal to establish a

Basel Convention partnership on plastic
waste and decided to establish a working
group of the Partnership (the so-called
‘Plastic Waste Partnership’, covered in
more detail below).

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COP 14 also adopted decision BC-14/13 on
‘Further actions to address plastic waste under
the Basel Convention’. Decision BC-14/13
further called upon Parties to:
▪ make further efforts to prevent and
minimize the generation of plastic
waste, for example, by increasing the
durability, reusability and recyclability of
plastic products.
▪ promote the environmentally sound
and efficient management of plastic
waste, for example, by improving the
collection, transport, treatment and
recycling of plastic waste, and by creating
markets for recycled materials made from
plastic waste.
▪ ensure that transboundary movement of
plastic waste is undertaken in accordance
with the provisions of the Convention
as well as with related national laws and
relevant regional agreements.
The COP adopted other decisions linked
to the implementation of the Plastic Waste
Amendments on:
▪ cooperation with the World Customs
Organization on the Harmonized
Commodity Description and Coding
System [Decision BC-14/9];
▪ national reporting [BC-14/10];
▪ technical assistance [BC-14/18];
▪ the Basel Convention Partnership
Programme [BC-14/19];
▪ international cooperation and coordination
[BC-14/21]; and
▪ the clearing house mechanism for
information exchange [BC-14/23].
At its 15th meeting, held online from 06 to
30 July 2021 and face to face in Geneva,
Switzerland, from 6 to 17 June 2022, the COP
to the Basel Convention adopted decision BC-
15/15 on further consideration of plastic waste.
In this decision, the COP took note of and invited
Parties and others to provide comments on the
background information related to a possible
future assessment of the effectiveness of the
measures taken under the Basel Convention to
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address plastic waste and to possible further
activities that could be conducted under the
Convention. Among such potential further
activities, the information document lists, for
example the following:
▪ Invite Parties to transmit information on
the generation and management of plastic
waste and the transboundary movement
of plastic waste not subject to the PIC
procedure.
▪ Request the Secretariat to propose
options towards the establishment of a
global monitoring programme.
▪ Establish an expert group to develop
practical guidance for the implementation
of the Basel Convention provisions
relevant to plastics and microplastics.
▪ Invite Parties and observers to conduct
activities to address waste containing
microplastics and nanomaterials.
COP-15 also adopted other decisions relevant to
plastic waste, including:
▪ BC-15/10: Among others, the COP
decided to continue the work to update
the technical guidelines on the ESM of
plastic waste.
▪ BC-15/13: Among others, the COP took
note of the practical guidance on the
development of inventories of plastic
waste, invited Parties and others to make
use of it, and requested the Secretariat to
undertake pilot projects to test it.
▪ BC-15/22: Among others, the COP
requested the working group of the
Plastic Waste Partnership to continue to
implement the workplan.
Q5: ​Which of the following actions for Parties
is NOT included in the decision BC-14/13?
□ To promote the environmentally sound and
efficient management of plastic waste.
□ To ensure that transboundary movements of
plastic waste are undertaken in accordance
with the provisions of the Convention as well
as with related national laws and relevant
regional agreements.
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□ To make further efforts at the domestic level □ To submit to the World Customs Organization
to prevent and minimize the generation of a proposal for amending the Harmonized
plastic waste. Commodity Description and Coding System
to allow the identification of types of wastes.

WHAT IS the Plastic Waste Partnership of the Basel Convention?

The Plastic Waste Partnership (PWP) of the Basel
Convention was established through Decision
BC-14/13. Its goal is:
“to improve and promote the environmentally sound
management of plastic waste at the global, regional
and national levels and prevent and minimize their
generation so as to reduce significantly and in the
long-term eliminate the discharge of plastic waste
and microplastics into the environment, in particular
the marine environment”.

The work of the Partnership is overseen by a

working group and implemented through four
project groups:

I. Plastic waste prevention and minimization

This project group addresses issues such as

reducing single-use packaging waste, improving
the design of plastic products to increase
durability, scaling up re-use solutions and
biodegradable plastic products.

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II. Plastic waste collection, recycling and other recovery, including financing and
related markets

This project group focuses on management

systems, financing schemes, such as extended
producer responsibility (EPR), and regulatory and
voluntary measures.

III. Transboundary movement of plastic waste

This project group explores the means to support

custom, enforcement and other authorities as
well as to help Parties implement the Plastic
Waste Amendments.

IV. Outreach, education and awareness-raising

This project group develops and disseminates

information on prevention and minimization,
environmentally sound management and control
of transboundary movement of plastic waste.

Project groups and activities website.

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WHAT TECHNICAL assistance is provided by the BRS Secretariat and the Basel and
Stockholm Conventions Regional Centers?

The BRS Secretariat and the Basel and Stockholm
Conventions Regional Centers provide technical
assistance activities to strengthen Parties’
capacities for the control of transboundary
movement, environmentally sound management,
and prevention and minimization of the
generation of plastic waste. As of March 2023,
such projects are being implemented, among
others, in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Malawi and
Zimbabwe. Moreover, the project ‘Plastic
Waste in Remote and Mountainous Areas’ aims
to strengthen capacity and raise awareness in
remote and mountainous areas, including in
several pilot countries, with activities initiated in
North Macedonia and Peru and activities under
preparation in in Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Mauritius,
Nepal, Rwanda, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Activities implemented in these projects include
the following:
▪ Review and support to adjust national
legal and institutional frameworks to
ensure a sound legal basis to implement
and enforce the control regime of the
Basel Convention.
▪ Development of national inventories of
plastic waste.
▪ Training of custom authorities and
enforcement officers.
▪ Development of national strategies for the
ESM of plastic waste.
▪ Implementation of pilot projects, from the
collection and recycling of fishing nets to
the use of compostable packaging made
from seaweed.

Q6: The Plastic Waste Partnership (PWP) of the Basel Convention, established through
Decision BC-14/13, is implemented through four project groups. Match each project with its
associated scope:

1. reducing single-use packaging waste, A. Outreach, education and awareness-

increasing durability, scaling up re-use
solutions, etc.
2. management systems, financing
schemes, such as extended producer
responsibility (EPR), etc.
3. explores means to support custom,
enforcement and other authorities, etc.
4. develops and disseminates
information on prevention and
minimization, ESM and TBM
raising
B. Plastic waste collection, recycling and
other recovery, including financing
C. Plastic waste prevention and
minimization
D. Transboundary movements (TBM) of
plastic waste

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WHAT IS the Small Grants Programme on Plastic Waste?

Another vehicle to advance the implementation

of relevant provisions of the Basel Convention
on plastic waste are the pilot projects under the
Small Grants Programme (SGP) on Plastic Waste.
Those pilot projects are designed to be low cost
and high impact projects, aimed at improving the
management of plastic waste in partner countries
and thus contributing towards preventing and
significantly reducing marine pollution. They fall
under the following results areas:

CONTROLLING THE IMPROVING THE PREVENTING AND MINIMIZING REDUCING THE RISK FROM
TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND THE GENERATION OF HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS,
OF PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT OF PLASTIC WASTE PLASTIC WASTE SUCH AS POPS IN PLASTIC WASTE

As of March 2023, 16 pilot projects are being
implemented, or in the final preparatory stage and
an additional 7 projects have been selected for
funding. Funded by Norad and the governments
of Germany, Norway and Sweden, the projects
will be implemented by the Regional Centres.
Examples include the upgrading of a community-
run recycling centre, the manufacture of reusable
bags through a women’s cooperative, zero
plastic high schools, development of regional
standards for transboundary movement of plastic
wastes and a certification scheme for plastic
recycling companies.

BRS-Norad-1

The project ‘Marine litter and microplastics:

promoting the environmentally sound management
of plastic waste and achieving the prevention and
minimization of the generation of plastic waste’
seeks to prevent and significantly reduce marine
litter and microplastics by strengthening capacity
in Ghana, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (currently on
hold) as well as at the regional and global levels.

Ghana case study will be discussed in more detail in

Module 2, lesson 4.

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU have reached the end of lesson 2 of this module.

In lesson 3, we will look at measures that are
needed to set up the legal and institutional
arrangements for the implementation of the
Basel Convention. We’ll explore the legal and
regulatory requirements, the importance of
inter-agency coordination, the role of external
stakeholders and the tools available to support
Parties. The lesson will also include examples of
regional measures already in place.

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Answers:

Q1: False Q5: To submit to the World Customs

Q2: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
Q3: 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
Q4: Improved control of transboundary
movements, increased environmentally sound
management and increased waste prevention
and minimization
Organization a proposal for amending the
Harmonized Commodity Description and
Coding System to allow the identification of
types of wastes.
Q6: 1-C, 2-B, 3-D, 4-A

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