Legal Definitions - Basel Convention

The Basel Convention is a treaty that was established in 1992 to control the transportation and disposal of hazardous waste across national borders. It sets formal rules and procedures to ensure that hazardous waste is handled safely and responsibly.

For example, if a company in one country wants to send hazardous waste to another country for disposal, they must follow the guidelines set out in the Basel Convention. This includes obtaining permission from the receiving country, providing detailed information about the waste, and ensuring that it is transported and disposed of in a way that does not harm people or the environment.

It is important to note that the United States has not ratified the Basel Convention as of 2021, meaning that it is not legally bound by its rules and procedures.