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Basel Convention on the Control of

Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Waste and its Disposal
Prof. Diann Suarez
POLIECO
+Outline

I. Historical background: What are the

events that led to the creation of the
Basel Convention?
II. What is the Basel Convention?
III. What is hazardous waste? What wastes
are covered in the Basel Convention
IV. Who are the parties and non-parties to
the Basel Convention?
V. Basel Convention Restrictions
VI. Basel Convention Compliance Monitoring
VII. Conclusion
+Historical background: What are the
events that led to the creation of the
Basel Convention?
(1) Tightening of environmental regulations in
developed and developing nations, wherein the
disposal cost of hazardous waste dramatically
rose in the 1970s

(2) Transboundary movement of waste became

more accessible because disposal costs in
developing countries were low, there were few
regulations, and lack of standards

(3) “Toxic Colonialism”

(4) No legal framework yet to control

international dumping of waste
+Historical background: What are the
events that led to the creation of the
Basel Convention?

 This ship carrying 14,000 tons of incinerator ash from

the Philadelphia, United States, which contained high
levels of lead and cadmium, dumped half of its load
on a beach in Haiti before being forced away. It sailed
for many months, changing its name several times,
and unable to unload its cargo in any port, was
believed to have dumped much of it at sea between
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+What is the Basel Convention?
International treaty designed to reduce the
movements of hazardous waste between
nations, specifically to prevent transfer of
hazardous waste from developed to less
developed countries (LDCs).

Intended to minimize the amount and toxicity

of wastes generated, to ensure its
environmentally sound management is as
close as possible to the source of generation

Created to assist LDCs in the environmentally

sound management of the hazardous and other
wastes they generate.
+What is the Basel Convention?
 Theconvention was opened for signature on
22 march 1989

It was entered into force on 5 May

1992
 Affiliatedinstruments:
 Basel Ban (1995)

- Export of hazardous waste is banned even for

recycling, inclusion of radioactive waste as
banned toxic waste – not ratified
 Liability
Protocol (1995)
 Environmentally Sound Management
(1999)
– continued export of wastes should not result
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+Additional info on hazardous waste
dumping
+What is Hazardous Waste?
If it is within the category of wastes listed in Annex
I; and exhibits one of the characteristics of
hazardous wastes in Annex III
As covered by the Basel Convention
Toxicity, Corrosivity
Ignitability (Explosive, Flammable)
Reactivity
Eco-toxicity
Clinical, mining, industrial, and agricultural wastes
End of life equipments and commodities (asbestos, PCB equipment,
stockpiles, batteries, e-wastes)
Ships
Household wastes and residue that comes from incinerating household
waste

Also, If the waste is defined as hazardous in the

exporting or importing country, or in any of the
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Thank You!