REEFERENCES

Plastic Waste
and the Basel
Convention
Module 1: Plastic Waste and the
Basel Convention

INTRODUCTORY LESSON: Setting the scene - plastic waste

Further reading:

▪ UNEP, 2021, From pollution to solution – A global assessment of marine litter, including plastics and
microplastics (forthcoming)
▪ BRS Secretariat, UNEP and Grid-Arendal, Marine Litter and Plastic Waste – Vital Graphics
(forthcoming)
▪ European Parliament, 2020, The environmental impacts of plastics and micro-plastics use, waste and
pollution: EU and national measures
▪ UNEP, n.d., Microplastics: Trouble in the food chain

LESSON 1: What is the Basel Convention and why does it matter?

Further reading:

▪ The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their
Disposal
▪ The Basel Convention at a Glance
▪ Illegal traffic under the Basel Convention
▪ Framework for the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and other wastes
▪ Cartagena Declaration on the Prevention, Minimization and Recovery of Hazardous Wastes and Other
Wastes
▪ Guidance to assist Parties in developing efficient strategies for achieving the prevention and
minimization of the generation of hazardous and other wastes and their disposal
▪ List of Basel Convention Focal Points and Competent authorities
▪ List of Basel Convention Regional and Coordinating Centres

LESSON 2: What are the Plastic Waste Amendments?

Further reading:

▪ Decision BC-14/12: Amendments to Annexes II, VIII and IX to the Basel Convention
▪ Decision BC-14/13: Further actions to address plastic waste under the Basel Convention
▪ BRS Secretariat’s website on the PWP
▪ BRS Secretariat’s website on the SGP on Plastic Waste
▪ BRS Secretariat’s website on the technical assistance to tackle plastic waste
▪ A story map on plastic waste and the Basel Convention (forthcoming)

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LESSON 3: What legal and institutional arrangements are needed?
Further reading:

▪ Guide to the Development of National Legal Frameworks to Implement the Basel Convention
▪ Manual for the Implementation of the Basel Convention, including the Checklist for the Legislator
▪ Glossary of terms

Module 2: Prevention, Minimization

and Environmentally Sound
Management of Plastic Waste

LESSON 4: How can we prevent and minimize the generation of plastic waste?
Further reading:

▪ Website of the Life Cycle Initiative

▪ Addressing Single-Use Plastic Products Pollution Using a Life Cycle Approach
▪ A circular economy for plastics – Insights from research and innovation to inform policy and funding
decisions
▪ Legal limits on single-use plastics and microplastics
▪ Strategic framework for the implementation of the Basel Convention
▪ Framework for the ESM of hazardous wastes and other wastes
▪ Technical guidelines for the identification and ESM of plastic wastes and for their disposal
▪ Draft updated technical guidelines on the identification and ESM of plastic wastes and for their
disposal
▪ Guidance to assist Parties in developing efficient strategies for achieving the prevention and
minimization of the generation of hazardous and other wastes and their disposal
▪ The Plastics Landscape: Regulations, Policies and Influencers
▪ Ghana’s National Plastics Management Strategy
▪ Draft compilation of information, best practices and lessons learned on measures taken to prevent and
reduce single use plastic waste

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LESSON 5: How can we manage plastic waste in an environmentally sound manner?
Further reading:

▪ Strategic framework for the implementation of the Basel Convention

▪ Framework for the ESM of hazardous wastes and other wastes
▪ Technical guidelines for the identification and ESM of plastic wastes and for their disposal
▪ Draft updated technical guidelines on the identification and ESM of plastic wastes and for their disposal
▪ Consideration for the development of ESM strategies (forthcoming; title TBC)
▪ Draft practical guidance on the development of an inventory of plastic waste
▪ Toolkit for the development of national plastic waste inventories (forthcoming)

Module 3: Transboundary
Movements and Illegal Traffic of
Plastic Waste

LESSON 6: How can we control transboundary movements of plastic waste?

Further reading:

▪ Guidance on the implementation of the Basel Convention provisions dealing with illegal traffic
(paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of Article 9)

LESSON 7: How can we combat illegal traffic of plastic waste?

Further reading:

▪ Guidance on the implementation of the Basel Convention provisions dealing with illegal traffic
(paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of Article 9)
▪ Guidance Elements for Detection, Prevention and Control of Illegal Traffic in Hazardous Waste
▪ Instruction manual on the prosecution of illegal traffic of hazardous wastes or other wastes

LESSON 8: What is the role of customs in combating illegal traffic in plastic waste?
Further reading:

▪ Manual for customs officers

▪ Basel Convention Training Manual on Illegal Traffic for Customs and Enforcement Agencies