Transfrontier shipment of waste
Economic growth and globalisation have led to a
worldwide increase of waste transports across borders, whether by
road, rail, air or sea. In order to control waste shipments, which
can create risks for human health and the environment, certain
procedures and requirements have been introduced in international
and European Union law.
Instances of hazardous waste from developed
countries being exported and dumped in developing countries first
highlighted the need for more supervision and control. The European
Community first introduced a directive on control procedures for
the shipment of hazardous waste in 1984. The Basel Convention of
1989 established worldwide notification requirements for the
movement of hazardous waste and obliged the parties to minimise the
generation of such waste and to ensure its environmentally sound
management.
Please see the regulations and guidance page for up to
date legislation.
Do you import or export waste from the
UK?
If you are involved in the import or export of
waste from the United Kingdom you need to be aware that shipments
of waste are subject to a range of regulatory controls.
Notification controls
Hazardous waste and waste destined for
recovery in a developing country is generally subject to
notification procedures. This requires the prior written consent of
all relevant authorities of dispatch, transit and destination.
Green list waste
Green list (non-hazardous) waste can be
shipped for recovery within Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) countries under a lower level of control and
accompanied by certain information. The shipment of non-hazardous
waste to non-OECD countries (ie developing countries) depends on
which classification of waste the importing country accepts and
which procedures it wants to apply.
Waste being exported for disposal is
predominantly illegal
This site explains more about notification and green list
controls. Please see our rough guide to
import and export controlsfor a general summary of
which shipments the different controls apply to.