Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste

Laws, conventions and regulations on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste aim to protect human health and the environment by restricting the import, export and transit of hazardous waste.

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195

Countries Covered

880

Sources in C2P

What is the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste?

The transboundary movement of hazardous waste refers to the transportation of hazardous waste by way of importing or exporting between countries. Hazardous waste is essentially waste that contains dangerous properties that make it harmful to human health or the environment (for example waste that is explosive, flammable, toxic, etc.).

Requirements on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste mainly stem from the UN Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal of 1989.

This defines and classifies hazardous waste, introduces a global regulatory control regime for the shipment of hazardous waste and other wastes, and establishes worldwide notification requirements for the movement of hazardous waste.

These requirements aim to:

Minimize hazardous waste generation
Control and reduce the international movement of hazardous waste
Ensure that waste disposal and recovery are conducted in an environmentally sound manner as close as possible to the source
Prevent and punish illegal traffic or trade of hazardous waste

Hazardous waste is essentially waste that contains dangerous properties that make it harmful to human health or the environment (for example waste that is explosive, flammable, toxic, etc.).

The primary aims of these requirements are:

Protecting Human Health
Protecting The Environment

Hazardous Waste Transportation Requirements

A prior notification procedure for the proposed shipment
General information requirements
Waste movement documentation
Prior consent approval in the country of import or transit
Marking and labeling of the waste
Packaging of waste
Import/export waste permits and licensing
Proper waste disposal or recovery
Warranties/guaranties

Comply With The Basel Convention

Our Regulatory Coverage for The Transport of Hazardous Waste

Our regulatory content in C2P is historically comprehensive with a robust QA process to ensure quality, consistency and accuracy. Below is a high level summary of our coverage for this topic:

UN: Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, 1989
Africa: Bamako Convention on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes, 1991
Australia: Export and Import of Hazardous Waste Regulations, SR 1996 No. 2
China: Ban on the Import of Solid Waste, Announcement No. 53, 2020
EU: Waste Shipments, Draft Regulation, November 2021
Italy: Waste Traceability System and National Electronic Waste Traceability Register, Regulation, 2023
OECD: Control of Transboundary Movements of Waste Destined for Recovery Operations, Council Decision C(2001)107/Final
Pacific Islands: Waigani Convention, 1995
Russian Federation: Transboundary Movement of Waste, Draft Resolution, July 2023