BAN to Support New Definitions of Electronic Scrap Trade

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The parties to the Basel Convention agreed to the "Swiss-Ghana Amendments” which establishes new definitions of hazardous and non-hazardous electronic waste. The COP15 Geneva meeting extended support to actions to ensure that the two categories of e-waste will either be banned from trade or at minimum quantities as agreed between the importing and exporting countries.

The new rules, scheduled to go into effect starting January 1, 2025, will make e-waste trade enforcement across the world much easier, as it will free customs and environmental authorities from undertaking expensive testing at borders to check for hazardousness. In addition, the new rules will also deliver notable environmental and health benefits, the Basel Action Network (BAN) press release noted.

Meantime, the meeting expressed concerns over the loophole in Basel guideline pertaining to international trade in repairable electronic items. More works needs to be done on this guideline, as there exists no consensus among countries as to when e-scrap is a waste and when it is not. BAN, in cooperation with developing countries, will do the needful to close this final loophole, said Jim Puckett, Executive Director, BAN.

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