The Basel Convention and the Control of Hazardous Waste Shipments
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This paper discusses the main obligations imposed by the Basel Convention and shows how this international legal instrument controls the shipment of hazardous waste. The author focuses on the conditions and restrictions on the trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes, and analyzes the weaknesses of the Basel Convention. This paper concludes with the author's observations as to how the Basel Convention can be more effective in the control of the trans-boundary waste movement.
From the Paper:"The 1970s saw a rapid increase in environmentalism and public awareness of environmental issues which triggered an increase in public resistance to the disposal of hazardous wastes. This further led to the adoption of major environmental legislation in developed countries with the main aim of adopting better and effective management of hazardous, solid and industrial waste disposal in order to minimize the negative effects of such waste.
"As a result, faced with stricter environmental regulations and stiffer public resistance, major waste generators in developed countries had to turn to other means to dispose of their hazardous wastes. Actually, they took advantage of the fact that during this period the world was experiencing an increase in the globalization of shipping which eased trans-boundary movement of waste and began looking at Eastern European countries and less developed countries as possible destinations for the disposal of hazardous waste.
"On the other, faced with an ever deteriorating economic situation, less developed countries saw this as an opportunity to generate revenue by reaching agreements with waste generators in developed countries to dispose of the latter's hazardous waste on their own territory , thus leading to an increase in the trade in hazardous waste - also known as 'toxic trade' - which would in turn negatively affect the environment and well-being of local communities in these less developed countries (LDCs)."
Sample of Sources Used:
- Widawsky, L. 'In My Backyard: How Enabling Hazardous Waste Trade to Developing Nations Can Improve the Basel Convention's Ability to Achieve Environmental Justice'. Issue 38/2, Lewis & Clark Law School's Environmental Law.
- Andrews, A., 'Beyond the Ban - can the Basel Convention adequately Safeguard the Interests of the World's Poor in the International Trade of Hazardous Waste?', Issue 5/2, Environment and Development Journal (2009)
- 'Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal'. Available at: http://archive.basel.int/text/17Jun2010-conv-e.pdf [accessed on 24 March 2012]
- 'Basel Convention: Overview'. Available at: http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/Overview/tabid/1271/Default.aspx [accessed on 22 March 2012]
- DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling, 'A Bried History of Environmental Law'. Available at: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/lwm/recycle/pubs/environmental_law.pdf [accessed on 22 March 2012]
Cite this Analytical Essay:
The Basel Convention and the Control of Hazardous Waste Shipments (2013, December 11) Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/the-basel-convention-and-the-control-of-hazardous-waste-shipments-153766/
"The Basel Convention and the Control of Hazardous Waste Shipments" 11 December 2013. Web. 29 March. 2020. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/the-basel-convention-and-the-control-of-hazardous-waste-shipments-153766/>