The Basel Convention is an international treaty that controls cross-border movements of hazardous and certain ‘other’ waste to promote environmentally sound management (ESM) of those materials within the Convention’s signatory countries. The Basel Parties – the 190 global governments that have ratified the Convention and implemented its provisions through national legislation – are convening at two key meetings in 2023. In the context of the recent expansion of materials subject to Basel controls and current proposals to amend the Convention, governments must use these meetings to strike the right balance between ensuring the proper management of wastes and facilitating the movement of valuable used equipment to support the circular economy.
The below key recommendations to Basel Parties would ensure that the Basel Convention does not create legal uncertainty and is consistent with circular economy approaches:
