07/10/2018

08/09/2018

# Basel Convention #e-waste #Stockholm Convention # chemicals & waste

We've reported in a recent update of 3 more topics that we pay special attention to other than plastics in Basel Convention OEWG 11. Listed below are some updates:

- Low POP Content of SCCP: parties tried but failed to sufficiently challenge the EU's high POP content proposals. The issue has instead been passed on to an expert technical group for consideration in October 2018.

- E-waste: In the opening plenary India spoke in strong opposition to creating a legal loophole, which it said would open the gates for the unregulated mass dumping of e-wastes in developing countries. Brazil also spoke against the update, cautioning that the guidelines could be in conflict with the purpose of the Basel Convention. But unfortunately one chair of the contact group refused to open discussion on the content of the draft guideline. COP 14 in2019 will further discuss whether amending the Technical Guidelines on transboundary movements of e-waste, in particular regarding the distinction between waste and non-waste under the Basel Convention.

- Ban Amendment: it prohibits all exports of hazardous waste from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries to all non-OECD countries. It protects developing countries from becoming trash bins for the most industrialised countries' hazardous waste. The Ban Amendment was adopted in 1994, and requires 62 ratification to enter into force. We still need two more countries' ratification for it to enter into force, so that the export of hazardous waste from the Global North to the Global South will be banned

- Nano waste: In accordance with a request by COP 13, the Secretariat presented a report, 'Waste Containing Nanomaterials' for consideration by the OEWG. The report recommends further work towards the classification of nano waste, as well as activities to minimize the presence of nanomaterials in waste streams among other recommendations. In contact groups it was resolved to invite further comments from parties on the report. A draft resolution will be prepared in view of the COP.

For more details please refer to the NGO newsletters and ENB report.