Executive Guide on Transboundary Movement of Waste

The Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous and other wastes and their disposal which entered into force in 1992, sets down the obligation for its 187 Parties (as of 31 December 2019) to ensure among other things that such movements involving at least two States are reduced to the minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes, and that such movements are conducted in a manner which will protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects which may result therefrom. It also requires that only persons authorized or allowed to transport or dispose of wastes undertake such operations and that such wastes be packaged, labelled and transported in conformity with generally accepted and recognized international rules and standards.

Several actors are involved in the exchange of information, including exporters, importers, waste treatment facility operators, carriers, waste generators, customs and competent authorities of export, import and transit countries. The involved actors are required to exchange information at different stages in the waste shipment process and for each individual transport. For example, each individual transport needs to be announced (Movement Announcement message), each individual receipt of waste needs to be confirmed (Certificate of Waste Receipt message) and each treatment of waste needs to be confirmed (Certificate of Waste Recovery Disposal message). In addition, the permission process also requires several steps of information exchange (Notification Submission, Notification Decision and other messages).